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 South of the Border

By Gary Pearce January 20, 2012

It was reputedly Robert E. Lee who said, “the problem with South Carolina is that it’s too small to be its own nation, but too large to be an insane asylum.” General Lee should have lived to see this year’s Republican primary.   Stephen Colbert’s candidacy officially makes the race the best comedy show on…

Mitticisms

By Gary Pearce January 19, 2012

Mitt Romney has a worse case of Rich Foot in Mouth disease than George H.W. Bush and John Kerry combined. A few favorites:   “I like being able to fire people.”   “I had to worry about a pink slip.”   (Of his $374,000-plus in speaking fees): “It wasn’t very much money.”   (Of the…

How Bev Wins

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

A supporter of Governor Perdue makes this strong and succinct case for her tax proposal:   “It could work out for her. She won’t get it unless there’s a groundswell of the public against our per child expenditure being 49th in the nation. If that happens she wins in a walk. If the legislature shoots…

Knightdale Builds a Bridge

By Carter Wrenn January 18, 2012

Over in Knightdale they’re building a million dollar footbridge over the Neuse River so residents can walk or jog or cycle down the Neuse River Greenway Trail, meandering through what they call a ‘wilderness area.’ Even better, if you’re from Knightdale, the million dollar bridge is free because Washington and state government are paying for…

Bev Is Right

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

Give Governor Perdue credit: whether it’s good politics or not, she’s doing the right thing on the sales tax.   Unless, of course, you believe it’s right for North Carolina to be 49th in the country in education spending. And some people clearly do. That’s the crowd that wants to further defund the schools, so…

Mitt’s Tin Ear

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

What political planet does Mitt Romney live on? How long does he really think he can get by without releasing his tax returns?   He’ll have to do it. The longer he waits, the greater the pressure and the anticipation. And the clearer it becomes he has a lot he wants to hide from the…

Sinking Sensation

By Gary Pearce January 18, 2012

A TAPster sees a connection between strange events.   First, “the Dean Dome wine and cheesers booed Governor Perdue last week. That disruption in the universe apparently poisoned the UNC basketball team, which played one of its worst games in history at Florida State. The Tar Heels’ spot-on imitation of a junior high team prompted…

Get Over Art Pope

By Gary Pearce January 17, 2012

A true-blue progressive Democrat vents – and sums up my own reaction to the jihad against Art (“I Am Not an Heir”) Pope:   “I’m over all the finger pointing at Art Pope. I don’t know him or agree with him on just about anything. However, I don’t think what he is doing is illegal…

Live From Myrtle Beach

By Gary Pearce January 17, 2012

A TAPster who was at the South Carolina Republican debate sent these updates last night:   (7:52 PM): Republicans are having a great time tonight in Myrtle Beach. Cocktail hour is in overtime as they await the 9 pm kickoff of the big debate. Many Romney supporters but, South Carolinians being South Carolinians, would love…

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…