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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

The Comeback Kid

By Gary Pearce September 7, 2011

I’ve been critical of President Obama lately. His poll numbers keep dropping, and he looks like a 97-pound weakling being pushed around by (of all people) John Boehner.   I even called him “Jimmy Obama” in one blog, comparing him to a famous one-term Democratic President.   So now it’s time to predict a comeback.…

Read More

DOT Defends 511

By Gary Pearce September 6, 2011

Ted Vaden, Deputy Secretary, Internal and External Affairs N.C. Department of Transportation, responds to my criticism of DOT’s 511 line and website during Irene:   “We’re big boys and girls at NCDOT, and we’ll take our hits when deserved. Certainly our 511 system can be better, but keep in mind that 511 updates were being…

Read More

The New Politics

By Gary Pearce September 5, 2011

Carter was mistaken when he wrote (“A Call From 60 Minutes,” below) that Bob Harris’ authorship of the “where do you stand, Jim” ads in 1984 “has been lost to history.” Actually, I wrote about that in my Hunt book, and Carter was my source.   But that’s not the reason for this post. Nor…

Read More

Gary On the Air

By Gary Pearce September 2, 2011

If you’re up at 7 a.m. Sunday and desperate for entertainment, listen to Don Curtis and me on “Carolina Newsmakers” on WPTF. We about covered the waterfront on politics: redistricting, money, Governor Perdue and the legislature, 2012, etc. The show will also be available at www.carolinanewsmakers.com.

Read More

Politics as Usual

By Carter Wrenn September 2, 2011

The other morning on one page of the newspaper Governor Perdue (or rather the Perdue administration), pleading hard times, announced the Department of Health and Human Services will no longer pay for eye exams, and eyeglasses and dental care to Medicaid patients. On top of that times are so hard the department’s also limiting physical…

Read More

Obama’s Last Chance?

By Gary Pearce September 2, 2011

President Obama better connect this time.   His much-hyped economic speech next week may be his last chance.   For all his strengths, Obama has one great failing: He hasn’t been able to forge an emotional connection with the American people since the election.   He did it during the campaign by fulfilling a yearning…

Read More

A Call From 60 Minutes

By Carter Wrenn September 1, 2011

Back in 1985 I got a call from George Crile a producer at 60 Minutes who said he and Mike Wallace wanted to come to Raleigh to interview Tom Ellis and me.   I thought, An interview with 60 Minutes – what’s the difference in that and sticking your head in a lion’s mouth? I…

Read More

The Blind Date Syndrome

By Carter Wrenn September 1, 2011

Overnight Rick Perry has soared from unknown to Republican frontrunner; — it’s reminiscent of four years ago when another unknown appeared out of nowhere, soared into the lead in the Democrat Primary, then rolled straight into the White House.   Now, Rick Perry – Governor of Texas, Air Force pilot, rugged cowboy – is the…

Read More

Get Your Data Dump

By Gary Pearce September 1, 2011

A new issue of North Carolina DataNet, published by the Program on Southern Life at the UNC J-School, is available now. Click here for a link to the report.   The focus is what report calls the “metropolitanization’’ of North Carolina’s population, and the impact that has on the state’s economy, culture and politics.  …

Read More

Education Governor

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2025

With a better General Assembly, Josh Stein could join Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford on North…

Read More

The N&O Story

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2025

Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful newspaper: The News & Observer. Everybody…

Read More

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…

Read More