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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The Republican War on Teachers

By Gary Pearce January 6, 2012

Here’s a good use for Bill Faison’s half-million dollars – or somebody’s: a super-PAC that hammers at the “legislature’s war on teachers.”   Here’s the message (or narrative, as we say today): “First they slashed education budgets and forced layoffs of hundreds of teachers and teacher assistants. Then they took college scholarships away from aspiring…

Let Newt Be Newt

By Gary Pearce January 6, 2012

The last time Newt Gingrich got this mad, he shut down the federal government. He thought Bill Clinton disrespected him by giving him a bad seat on Air Force One.   Now he thinks Mitt Romney disrespected him by having super-PACs dump millions of dollars on his head in Iowa, making his comeback one of…

School Bells or Alarm Bells?

By Gary Pearce January 5, 2012

I don’t know enough to judge the changes the new Wake school board is making in the assignment plan. Of course, I’m inclined to trust the new members – and distrust anything the old majority did.   But I’m bothered.   In the board elections last year and two years ago, voters rebelled against too…

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…

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…