Carter is a Republican. Gary is a Democrat.

They met in 1984, during the epic U.S. Senate battle between Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt. Carter worked for Helms and Gary, for Hunt.

Years later, they became friends. They even worked together on some nonpolitical clients.

They enjoy talking about politics. So they started this blog in 2005.

They’re still talking. And they invite you to join the conversation.

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Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

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That’s Entertainment…

By Carter Wrenn January 20, 2012

Ole’ Mitt Romney’s hit a rough patch – a week ago he was the conqueror of Iowa and New Hampshire and rolling to victory in South Carolina then his victory in Iowa vanished in front of his eyes and Newt shot past him in South Carolina.   The Republican Establishment’s a peculiar beast: Armed with…

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Politics South of the Border

By Gary Pearce January 20, 2012

It was reputedly Robert E. Lee who said, “the problem with South Carolina is that it’s too small to be its own nation, but too large to be an insane asylum.” General Lee should have lived to see this year’s Republican primary.   Stephen Colbert’s candidacy officially makes the race the best comedy show on…

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Mitticisms

By Gary Pearce January 19, 2012

Mitt Romney has a worse case of Rich Foot in Mouth disease than George H.W. Bush and John Kerry combined. A few favorites:   “I like being able to fire people.”   “I had to worry about a pink slip.”   (Of his $374,000-plus in speaking fees): “It wasn’t very much money.”   (Of the…

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How Bev Wins

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

A supporter of Governor Perdue makes this strong and succinct case for her tax proposal:   “It could work out for her. She won’t get it unless there’s a groundswell of the public against our per child expenditure being 49th in the nation. If that happens she wins in a walk. If the legislature shoots…

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Knightdale Builds a Bridge

By Carter Wrenn January 18, 2012

Over in Knightdale they’re building a million dollar footbridge over the Neuse River so residents can walk or jog or cycle down the Neuse River Greenway Trail, meandering through what they call a ‘wilderness area.’ Even better, if you’re from Knightdale, the million dollar bridge is free because Washington and state government are paying for…

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Bev Is Right

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

Give Governor Perdue credit: whether it’s good politics or not, she’s doing the right thing on the sales tax.   Unless, of course, you believe it’s right for North Carolina to be 49th in the country in education spending. And some people clearly do. That’s the crowd that wants to further defund the schools, so…

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Mitt’s Tin Ear

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

What political planet does Mitt Romney live on? How long does he really think he can get by without releasing his tax returns?   He’ll have to do it. The longer he waits, the greater the pressure and the anticipation. And the clearer it becomes he has a lot he wants to hide from the…

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Sinking Sensation

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

A TAPster sees a connection between strange events.   First, “the Dean Dome wine and cheesers booed Governor Perdue last week. That disruption in the universe apparently poisoned the UNC basketball team, which played one of its worst games in history at Florida State. The Tar Heels’ spot-on imitation of a junior high team prompted…

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Get Over Art Pope

By Gary Pearce January 17, 2012

A true-blue progressive Democrat vents – and sums up my own reaction to the jihad against Art (“I Am Not an Heir”) Pope:   “I’m over all the finger pointing at Art Pope. I don’t know him or agree with him on just about anything. However, I don’t think what he is doing is illegal…

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How Democrats Win Again

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2025

The shouting, sign-waving and cane-wielding by congressional Democrats at the State of the Union isn’t a…

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Deborah Ross’ Rx

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2025

Curmudgeonly Cajun James Carville says Democrats just need to “roll over and play dead” and wait…

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Puzzling

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2025

Trump raised tariffs. Said tariffs are beautiful. The next day, about facing, said automakers didn’t have…

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