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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Not Serving Wine

By Carter Wrenn May 2, 2012

It’s hard to tell who’s crazier: Andrew Young or John Edwards.   Back in 1998 in Myrtle Beach Young hears Edwards make a speech and, as Young told it himself in court last week, fell in love. A few years later Rielle Hunter met Edwards in a New York bar and fell in love too.…

More to Come?

By Gary Pearce May 2, 2012

The N&O story today by Dan Kane and John Frank (“Second Tillis staffer admits to inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist”) had this eye-catching line:   “After Thomas’ resignation, Tillis said he returned to his office on Sunday afternoon and questioned five of his 10 remaining staff members, who had been the subject of rumors related…

Bin Laden Politics

By Gary Pearce May 1, 2012

Mitt Romney is about to come unglued because President Obama ordered the operation that killed bin Laden.   First Romney said “even Jimmy Carter” would have ordered the raid. Then he said “any thinking American” would have.   Presumably, that explains why President Bush didn’t.   Of course, Romney overlooks the fact that some military…

Blame Newt Gingrich

By Gary Pearce May 1, 2012

A capital veteran says of the Charles Thomas/lobbyist scandal:   “Sex between legislators, staffers and lobbyists isn’t anything new. Been going on for years. What’s new about this is a private investigator hired by an undisclosed client did the N&O’s investigation and the N&O printed the result. This is a spooky precedent.”   Laura Leslie…

What Is Bill Thinking?

By Gary Pearce April 30, 2012

Most of time, you can tell what a campaign is thinking by watching what it does. Sometimes, what a campaign does makes you wonder what – or if – they’re thinking. So it is with Bill Faison’s campaign for governor.   Some weeks ago, the buzz was that Faison was going to pump a half-million…

Walter, Bob, Bill and Pat

By Carter Wrenn April 30, 2012

Walter Dalton, Bob Etheridge and Bill Faison are slugging it out in the Democratic Primary and the prospect of one of them emerging flat broke after the election and facing Pat McCrory (who’s sitting on $3 million) in the fall has Republicans feeling warm all over about winning the Governor’s race for the first time…

Payback?

By Gary Pearce April 30, 2012

Since their 2010 debacle, Democrats have muttered about an “iron triangle” they believe helped do them in: politically motivated prosecutions, relentless Republican pressure for the investigations and tough media scrutiny. Some even saw a coordinated conspiracy.   So don’t be surprised if they look for payback in the Charles Thomas/lobbyist affair. They want investigations –…

A Game Changer

By Carter Wrenn April 29, 2012

Every now and then during the closing days of an election a candidate defines his campaign with one line. Paul Coble did that in the News and Observer this morning. By attacking George Holding for prosecuting Mike Easley and John Edwards.   Last week, Paul Coble attacked George Holding for working for Senator Jesse Helms…

Coming Unglued

By Carter Wrenn April 27, 2012

I’ve seen candidates say some bizarre things when their campaigns fall apart – but this one has to take the cake. Paul Coble’s actually slamming George Holding for prosecuting Mike Easley and John Edwards – and saying those prosecutions were a waste of taxpayers money. We just entered the twilight zone. Paul’s poll numbers have…

Getting the News

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2026

How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…

MAGA-gator

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2026

Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…

Enough is Enough

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2026

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…