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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Teeing Up Faith

By Gary Pearce August 25, 2011

A group of golfers and non-golfers were talking this week about Webb Simpson’s comments after winning his first PGA event.   Not what he said about his putting or a crucial drive or a big save. But the first words out of his mouth when David Feherty stuck a microphone in his face on the…

Huh?

By Gary Pearce August 24, 2011

The email from David Parker, state Democratic Party chairman, promised a rip-roaring attack on Republican leaders: “Tillis, McCrory and Berger: Turning Back The Clock On NC Schools.”   Then came the first line:  “Last week, Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly decided to challenge a court ruling on pre-kindergarten access could lead to an…

Perry Hits Iceberg

By Carter Wrenn August 23, 2011

I used to think the media or most of it looked at the world through ‘two left eyes’ – back in the days of Jesse Helms the media’s liberal bias was a mantra and article of faith.   Now, I’ve come to think what the media loves more than politics or ideology is a good…

Obama’s Job Test

By Gary Pearce August 23, 2011

Instead of getting him back on the high road, President Obama’s bus tour left him deeper in the ditch. What to do now? Of course, give a Big Speech on Jobs!   Clearly, the Obama team is back to the 2008 playbook: When the chips are down, the chief will come through with a powerful,…

Really?

By Gary Pearce August 22, 2011

If I were a self-respecting Republican, I’d be praying for Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman to catch fire – or for Paul Ryan to get into the race.   Especially after hearing these gems from Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry:   Bachmann in South Carolina: “Under President Bachmann, you will see gasoline come down below…

A Good Book

By Carter Wrenn August 22, 2011

Yesterday was a day the locust ate – everything that could go wrong did and there were no simple solutions. If it could go wrong it did. A television ad jumped the tracks, a website derailed, a mailing imploded. Three train wrecks in three hours.   Then, that night, when I got home instead of having…

Tillis’ Moves

By Gary Pearce August 22, 2011

A TAPster who is a veteran observer of legislators has a good take on State House speaker Thom Tillis:  “Tillis who squirted from obscurity to the state’s most powerful politician in record time, is an adroit organizer, manager and fundraiser and is as politically sophisticated as most of us have ever seen. He’s made two…

No Friends at All?

By Carter Wrenn August 19, 2011

No doubt the Governor can explain to her fellow Democrats why she’s fighting Republican legislators ‘tooth and nail’ but how on earth can she explain to Democrats she’s been bushwhacked from behind by the Obama Administration?   The problem, Obama’s Justice Department says, is the Governor (or rather her minions who run Medicaid for her)…

Empty Nest

By Gary Pearce August 19, 2011

This is a big day for my wife Gwyn and me. We become empty nesters. We take our daughter to Appalachian State for her first day of college.   Our son was born 22 years, two months and two days ago. Every day since, our daily lives have focused on James and Maggie: feeding them,…

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…