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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What’s He Been Smoking?

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2012

Paul Coble’s gone and done it again.   Just a few months ago Paul Coble was asking Joe Knott to support him for Congress. Now, treading water, Paul’s hit the panic button and called Joe Knott a wild-eyed liberal – because Joe’s supporting George Holding and not Paul.   Next, out of a clear blue…

Hyperspeed Campaigns

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2012

In a hyper-speed, short-attention-span world, North Carolina Democrats are having a hyper-speed, short-attention-span race for Governor.   The campaigns have to do in two months what you normally do over many months and even years: hire staff, find office space, recruit consultants, do benchmark polls, conduct oppo research, prep on issues, collect endorsements, make ads,…

Coble Heaves a Mudball

By Carter Wrenn March 6, 2012

Yesterday, Paul Coble reared up on his hind legs and brayed like a mule and hurled a mudball straight at George Holding – which is a sure sign Coble’s campaign is in trouble.   The rhubarb began Saturday at the debate – Coble rolled through a homily to himself then Bill Randall asked, What about…

Burn the Heretics!

By Gary Pearce March 6, 2012

After all these years, I find out that Carter Wrenn is a liberal.   He had me fooled – working for Jesse Helms, where he ran ads calling Jim Hunt a “Mondale liberal.” Even after we became friends and worked together on some non-political projects, he maintained the façade of a crusty conservative.   Now…

Democracy in Action in the State House

By Carter Wrenn March 5, 2012

The News and Observer headline read, Thom Tillis pushed bill for donors.   And the first line claimed Tillis had “muscled through” a bill so his donors could charge folks (who’re near the bottom of the 99%) 36% interest on loans.   But here’s an odd fact: Not one Democratic legislator had a critical word…

Obama’s Gallantry, Romney’s Timidity

By Gary Pearce March 5, 2012

Near the end of the 1960 campaign, at the urging of civil rights aide Harris Wofford, John Kennedy called Coretta Scott King to offer his sympathy after Martin Luther King was jailed.   Robert Kennedy exploded at Wofford: “You just lost us the election.” As it turned out, the call won JFK thousands of African-America…

Thanks, Rush

By Gary Pearce March 3, 2012

America’s biggest problem is the economy. So, of course, national politics plunges into culture wars – or, more like, sex wars.   I guess it’s because Republicans in Congress and Rick Santorum just can’t resist the lure of legislating morality.   And maybe it’s because people know more about sex than about the economy.  …

Cousins

By Carter Wrenn March 2, 2012

Last week when I was standing in the back of the bookstore my cousin Winifred, who’s past eighty and pure steel magnolia, walked through the doorway and made a beeline straight to me and snapped, Were you at that convention?   Last week at the Republican convention the Chairman, Susan Bryant, called Bev Perdue was…

A Pass for Pols, No Voice for Voters

By Gary Pearce March 2, 2012

Maybe you think the legislature ought to cut taxes and spending a lot more. Or maybe you don’t like legislators requiring vaginal ultrasounds for women.   Tough – for about 2 in 5 voters.   John Frank of the N&O reported:   “Nearly a quarter of the state legislature won re-election Wednesday without a single…

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…