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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Marital Woes

By Gary Pearce November 19, 2010

The institution of marriage is clearly in trouble. A new poll says nearly four in 10 Americans believe marriage is obsolete.   It seems like the only people who want to get married are gays. And the Republican Party is determined to stop them.   This is disheartening news for the cake, catering, flower and…

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A Whiff of a Waffle?

By Gary Pearce November 19, 2010

The N&O reported that one of Sen. Phil Berger’s five goals for the new Republican Senate is:   “Write a state budget with no tax increases and with the intent of letting temporary sales tax and income tax surcharges expire on schedule” (italics added).   Saying that’s your “intent” is a lot different from promising…

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Dems Gone Wild

By Gary Pearce November 18, 2010

Both parties are busy with the usual post-election rituals. The winners fight over power, and the losers fight over blame.   As usual with Democrats, the left and the center blame each other.   Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell, et al blame Speaker Pelosi – and, by implication, President Obama – for pushing the party too…

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Outgrowing the Deficit

By Gary Pearce November 17, 2010

Let me keep pounding the drum I beat yesterday.   A front-page article in The New York Times today reinforces the need for politicians to talk about economic growth, not just budget cuts.   David Leonardt writes:   “We look back on the late 1990s as a rare time when the federal government ran budget…

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Political Disconnect

By Gary Pearce November 16, 2010

Politicians in Raleigh and Washington are spending their time and energy debating an issue that, I suspect, few Americans spend much time and energy worrying about: the budget deficit.   Yes, the average person probably would say something has to be done about the deficit. But the real concern is the economy: jobs, paying the…

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Doing the Impossible

By Carter Wrenn November 16, 2010

After pouring millions into campaigns to elect Democrats from Chris Dodd to local Congressman Bob Etheridge, the Wall Street Banks are now rubbing their hands together and purring over the prospect of the new Republican Majority repealing the President’s new banking regulations – like the legislation the Democrats passed that cut debit card fees for…

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A Priceless Gift

By Carter Wrenn November 16, 2010

Sometimes meaning to kick you in the ribs, a fellow hands you a platinum covered gift instead.   President of Afghanistan Hamid ‘The Corrupt’ Karzai just did that – he handed us a priceless gift, demanding we stop night raids on Taliban headquarters and adding it’s time we got the hell out of Afghanistan –…

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A Tough Character?

By Carter Wrenn November 15, 2010

The other morning when I turned on the television one of the networks was swooning over Mrs. Obama and praising her to high heavens, comparing her to Jackie Kennedy, showing her wearing a Shari and boogie-luing with a group of Indian children.   Then ole Obama himself got up and started dancing too and I’ll…

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WOWW, Part 3

By Gary Pearce November 15, 2010

WOWW: Where Obama Went Wrong   So here’s my theory, keeping in mind that when you’re a hammer, everything is a nail. I’m a political media guy, so I see a political-media answer.   Yes, Obama should have done a better job explaining what he was doing.   Yes, he made a mistake letting Pelosi,…

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Wake Up, America

By Carter Wrenn March 17, 2025

A dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, locked down during COVID, he called, surprised me asking: ‘Ford beat Reagan in…

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Hope

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2025

I have hope – despite what Trump is doing. I have hope because of what he’s…

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Education Governor

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2025

With a better General Assembly, Josh Stein could join Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford on North…

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