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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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,…

Rick Perry – Off and Running

By Carter Wrenn August 18, 2011

During Governor Rick Perry’s announcement he opined he loves America and loves Texas and loves the U.S. Army and loves South Carolina with its early Primary and I thought, Yes – but where do you stand on raising the debt ceiling?   Governor Perry’s maiden voyage into Presidential politics is being hailed as a grand…

Tillis and the Gay Marriage

By Gary Pearce August 18, 2011

Speaker Thom Tillis again shows signs of being soft (if you’ll pardon the term) on gay marriage.   According to the Charlotte Observer, Tillis was pressed at a town meeting this week about the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.   “Can you explain to us why you’re squandering taxpayer resources on this…

Michele and Newt

By Carter Wrenn August 17, 2011

At the Iowa debate, without blushing, Tim Pawlenty described himself an ‘Effective, Tested, Conservative Leader’ – two days later he was out of the Presidential race. So much for the power of slogans. This election folks are asking, Where’s the beef?   On the other hand, Newt Gingrich breathed a real spark into his flagging…

Jobs and Debt

By Gary Pearce August 17, 2011

The most overused political cliché today is that Washington is wasting time talking about deficits and debt when it should be talking about jobs.   But there’s another political cliché that matters here: He who defines the debate wins the race.   By that measure, Republicans are hammering President Obama and the Democrats. And it’s…

Two Story Outhouse

By Carter Wrenn August 17, 2011

Sometimes a picture’s worth a thousand words; this came in over the transom in an email.   ————————————–   Two Story Outhouse I can’t even think of anything to add to this… Words fail me! This picture is worth 10,000 of them.     Yep!!! This pretty much says it all. Needs no additional comments!!!

Tata’s Surprise

By Gary Pearce August 17, 2011

When I read this morning about Tony Tata’s school-assignment plan, I recalled what one supporter of the diversity policy told me after meeting Tata earlier this year: “I don’t think this school board knows what they’ve got.” Tata seemed much more progressive than the board’s Republican majority.   Perhaps the majority was seduced – and…

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…