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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Bob Etheridge’s Vision

By Carter Wrenn February 7, 2012

Bob Etheridge stepped to the podium, grasped the microphone and intoned solemnly, ‘This is a defining moment in history’ – then the next words out of his mouth were he’s running for Governor.   Because, he added, as the son of a Harnett County tenant farmer he understands North Carolina’s ‘journey.’   Where on earth…

Talking About GenZers

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

I’m one of the GenGeezers attending this year’s Emerging Issues Forum about GenZers – those born 1990-on.   They’re facing a changing and challenging economy. Their jobs will last an average of four years. They have an average college debt of $20,000. One-third of them are obese or overweight. They send an average of 3,000-plus…

Tillis and the Media

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

This topic is left over from when I was gone, but it demands comment.   Thom Tillis threw another temper tantrum at the media.   This is astoundingly bad judgment. Tillis got great media coverage through most of last year – the session and his listening tour. Things went sour after the midnight override of…

Super Bowl Winner

By Gary Pearce February 6, 2012

I’m talking about the ads, of course. And the winner was…Chrysler and Clint Eastwood.   Fast Company makes the case here.   As soon as the ad ran, Twitter lit up with Democrats tweeting that Clint sounded like he was doing a Reelect Obama ad.   Maybe with a headline from four years ago: “Romney…

Art Pope Responds

By Gary Pearce February 6, 2012

Following is an email from Art Pope responding to my blog post yesterday. I reprint it here in full, and I appreciate Art responding – and reading:   Gary, I realize that in your blog you are simply reporting a story “going around,” and not vouching that it is true.   Please let me assure…

The Democratic ‘Old Guard’

By Carter Wrenn February 6, 2012

Governor Perdue didn’t call a press conference or step to a microphone, instead she pulled up the drawbridge to the Governor’s mansion then sent out a short message saying she wasn’t running for Governor – which Democrats, with quiet politeness, greeted with a sigh of relief because the most unpopular Governor in memory was no…

Politics in Las Vegas

By Carter Wrenn February 5, 2012

Lord help us, Donald Trump reality TV star and champion self-promoter is back. In Las Vegas. Endorsing Mitt Romney.   The Presidential campaign is heading from tragedy to a farce – Obama’s wreaked havoc for three years and we Republicans have a campaign where Newt’s daughters by his first marriage are defending him from his…

Under the Dean Dome

By Gary Pearce February 5, 2012

As Rob Christensen wrote in his column Sunday, being booed at the Dean Dome a couple of weeks ago may have contributed to Governor Perdue’s decision not to run. And there’s another story going around about that game.   According to this account, Republican puppet-master Art (“I Am Not An Heir”) Pope delivered a clear…

Bob Was Ready – or Was He?

By Gary Pearce February 4, 2012

Bob Etheridge was ready to run, but not ready to take a stand.   The old cager was poised to jump into the governor’s race the moment Erskine Bowles announced he wouldn’t suit up. But Etheridge wasn’t ready to say whether he supported the gay marriage amendment or the school tax.   He could have…

Political Shots Fired

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2026

The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…