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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Who Let the Dogs Out?

By Gary Pearce April 17, 2012

Watching the Democratic debate was like going to the dog park.   Bill Faison was a pit bull: feisty, but you’re not sure if he’s going to bite another dog, a dog owner or maybe you.   Walter Dalton was an over-eager terrier, jumping up and down and barking, too eager to bring you all…

By the Neck, Bob

By Gary Pearce April 16, 2012

A Democratic TAPster has an intriguing idea for a Bob Etheridge ad:   “I know what to do about the schools.  I did it in the legislature and as State Superintendent. And I know how to handle the Republicans in the legislature.   “If they give me any trouble, I’ll grab them by the scruff…

Stop the Cover-up

By Gary Pearce April 16, 2012

The Watergate break-in was almost 40 years ago. NC Democratic Party Chair David Parker is marking the occasion with his own cover-up.   Memo to Parker: You can’t cover up sexual harassment. Democrats deserve to know what the hell happened – and how much money it’s costing.   And don’t blame your political enemies. That’s…

Congratulations

By Carter Wrenn April 15, 2012

This evening Gary will be inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations at the UNC School of Journalism.   It’s an honor and a much deserved one. Gary was already in my hall of fame but now it’s official.   Congratulations, Gary.  

Romney Versus Romney

By Gary Pearce April 14, 2012

The Obama campaign’s “Truth Team” kicked into gear as Mitt Romney wrapped up the Republican race.   They’ll have plenty of material to work with, starting with Romney pioneering Obamacare, which he now promises to “kill.” This video, “The Anniversary of Romneycare,” lays bare Romney’s hypocrisy.

Wrong answer

By Carter Wrenn April 13, 2012

Gary used to tell a story about Tony Rand, running for Lt. Governor, debating Jim Gardner back in 1988: Gardner let fly and ripped into Tony saying he was a backroom politician who along with eight other backroom politicians (who called themselves the ‘Gang of Eight’) had written the whole state budget in secret in…

The War Over Women

By Gary Pearce April 13, 2012

Often in politics it’s your friends – not your enemies – who do you the most damage.   Democrats were on a roll with the Republican “war on women.” Then a Democratic operative, Hillary Rosen, let slip a comment that some people heard as a “war on moms.”   Rule One, as President Obama observed,…

A Debatable Primary

By Gary Pearce April 12, 2012

Here are two questions that answer all you need to know about the Democratic primary for governor.   Have you seen a TV ad by any of the candidates?   Do you plan to watch any of the three back-to-back debates next week?   With no ads running, the debates will give most primary voters…

An Example of Spin

By Carter Wrenn April 12, 2012

For the last month Paul Coble’s been running a TV ad criticizing Congress for raising the national debt 50%. Then, the other day, The American Foundations Committee (which is running an independent campaign supporting George Holding) ran an ad pointing out Coble has supported raising Wake County’s debt 93%. Coble’s response: He told the press…

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…