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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After Midnight

By Gary Pearce January 5, 2012

The legislature apparently is determined to help Governor Perdue win reelection.   The worse the legislature looks, the better her chances in November look. Now she can bash them over a post-midnight power play that punishes teachers who dare to speak out against education budget cuts. (That’s how I’d explain it. It will make a…

Two Headlines

By Carter Wrenn January 4, 2012

Newspaper headline: ‘Santorum strategy pays off.’   New York Times  synopsis: Rick Santorum reached the top in Iowa with a savvy strategy – by relying on his own instincts he succeeded with no polls, no speechwriter, and skeletal advertising.   That’s one explanation. Of course, there’s another.   Headline: Lightning strikes Santorum.   Synopsis: After his…

The Bedrock Beneath Our Feet

By Carter Wrenn January 4, 2012

While General Washington camped in New York waiting for the British to attack, fifty-six men in Philadelphia – who said they not only had a Creator but that He’d given them what they called inalienable rights – crossed the Rubicon and told the King of England they were done being colonists.   Then, years later,…

Mitt Broccoli

By Gary Pearce January 4, 2012

Mitt Romney is like political broccoli: Republicans may have to swallow him, but they still don’t like the taste.   On CNN last night, James Carville cut through all the clutter and chatter with this dead-on analysis of what Iowa means:   – Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee.   – A lot of…

The Year of the Negative Ad

By Gary Pearce January 3, 2012

I begin this new year by publicly thanking the U.S. Supreme Court for all it has done to make 2012 the Year of the Negative Ad.   The high court’s bold, wise Citizens United decision already has claimed one victim – and an appropriate one: Newt Gingrich. But the best is yet to come.  …

How to Pick the God to Give Thanks to..

By Carter Wrenn January 3, 2012

A couple of years ago the small piedmont town of King, North Carolina landed in the soup because the ACLU or someone got into a dither over the town flying a ‘Christian Flag’ over the local Veterans Memorial.   Now, they’ve come up with a solution. Here’s how it works: Each December the town collects…

Polls and Guesses

By Carter Wrenn January 2, 2012

NBC News and Marist University have released an 11th hour poll in Iowa – in the last four weeks 19% of the voters have switched candidates, almost half going to Rick Santorum with most of the rest splitting between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.     Ballot Change Romney 23% +4 Paul 21% +2 Santorum 15%…

The Democrats File a Dud

By Carter Wrenn December 31, 2011

When the Democrats sued the Republicans over redistricting I thought we might be treated to see a bit of grand political theatre with Republicans arguing for the Voting Rights Act (which they hate) and Democrats arguing against it (even though they’ve been in love with it for four decades).   It’s a disappointment but no…

Burr for VP?

By Gary Pearce December 31, 2011

After Senator Richard Burr and former Senator Elizabeth Dole endorsed Mitt Romney, a reporter asked: Do endorsements matter? Answer: Not to voters, but definitely to politicians and reporters.   No voter who is torn between, say, Romney and Newt Gingrich will think: “Gee, I don’t know who to vote for. So I’ll just vote for…

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…