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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Politics as Usual

By Carter Wrenn August 12, 2011

Washington has done it again. They’ve appointed a ‘Super Committee’ to cut spending only there’s a hitch – the newspapers report the members of the committee have taken three million dollars in campaign contributions, from the special interests who’s spending they’re supposed to cut.   Senator Patti Murray, who’s also taken an additional $1 million…

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Me and Anderson Cooper

By Gary Pearce August 12, 2011

I made my maiden appearance on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show last night (regrettably, I can’t find a link for your viewing pleasure; somebody help me). Therein lie two stories: one about how news happens today and the other about how President Obama still might get reelected.   First, the news. I was on – looking,…

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Fred Turnage

By Gary Pearce August 11, 2011

A friend chastised me – and rightly so – for not taking note of the July 31 death of long-time (1973-2007) Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage.   It’s not just that Turnage was mayor for 34 years and not just that he was a progressive leader in difficult times.   Rocky Mount has long been…

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Trashing Obama

By Gary Pearce August 11, 2011

It’s terrible what they’re saying about President Obama. Not the Republicans; the Democrats.   This week, there has been an explosion of criticism from the President’s own party and old supporters. You’ll find an example on almost every newspaper or political website.   It runs the gamut: He’s too aloof, he caved on the debt…

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Budget Injustice

By Gary Pearce August 10, 2011

A TAPster follows up on the blog about many chiefs at the Department of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention:   “Look up the salaries of the executives. Look at the total payroll of those at the top level. The Department laid off the direct staff of those who serve juveniles, but many and most of…

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Governors’ Papers

By Gary Pearce August 10, 2011

The Department of Cultural Resources put on a nice lovefest for the presentation of Governor Hunt’s fourth volume of papers Tuesday. Governor Perdue was in excellent form, and the Southeast Raleigh High School vocal ensemble was outstanding.   (One bit of news was missing from Under the Dome’s account: Governor Hunt said he had talked…

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Jimmy Obama?

By Gary Pearce August 9, 2011

Democrats fear they’re watching another failed Presidency. Like with Jimmy Carter, they see a faltering economy and a President who seems unable to turn the political tide.   It was telling that, throughout Carter’s four years in office, editorial cartoons pictured him growing smaller and smaller. In the few cartoons left today, Obama gets skinnier…

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Disputing Pat

By Gary Pearce August 8, 2011

A TAPster takes on Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory over McCrory’s op-ed in the Charlotte Observer on voter ID: “I think there are some interesting facts that McCrory failed to share in his piece – and I’m surprised a paper like the Observer would publish without asking him some questions on his sources. Notably McCrory…

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The Bonehead Budget Award

By Gary Pearce August 8, 2011

Linda Hayes, the secretary of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, is this month’s winner of the Thom Tillis Bonehead Budget Award.   Speaker Tillis, you recall, put state government on a diet, then gave his staff fat raises.   Hayes wins for complaining about budget cuts and then, according to a TAPster, “closing a couple…

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Who Pays the Price

By Carter Wrenn February 5, 2025

Wiley lifted his cell phone, held it in the air in front of him, pushed a…

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Going Too Far

By Carter Wrenn February 3, 2025

Cheeks round, pudgy fingers fumbling, Ellmer took a newspaper article out of his briefcase, pushed it…

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Dividing Line

By Gary Pearce February 3, 2025

Trump has done America a big favor: in just two weeks, he’s drawn a bright line…

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