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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Follow the Money

By Carter Wrenn April 25, 2011

Well, Gary, at least no one can say we’ve gotten more close minded as we’ve gotten older: Here you are (Putting Pocketbooks First – below) saying Republican Representative and lawyer Leo Daughtry voted against ‘Med-Mal Caps’ to protect his own legal fees and here I am saying, Hold on – you’re following the wrong money…

Tata Quiets the Class

By Gary Pearce April 25, 2011

Have you noticed that, since Anthony Tata became Wake schools superintendent, the decibel level has dropped dramatically?   Has he muzzled the school board? Put them in detention? Resorted to corporal punishment?   Whatever his abilities as a superintendent, Tata seems to have a talent for reassuring people. Not long ago, this Fox-commentating, Sarah Palin-endorsing…

A Predictable Train Wreck

By Gary Pearce April 25, 2011

Jack Betts writes that Republicans in the legislature are about to “blow it.”Mark Binker writes that – despite promises of bipartisan cooperation – “the state’s chief executive and top lawmakers are at loggerheads.”   Is anybody surprised?   Of course they had to promise to get along. No politician wants to be the first to…

Politics to Make the Gilded Age Proud

By Carter Wrenn April 25, 2011

Republican House Leader Skip Stam, according to the newspaper, has introduced a new law limiting how much corporations with state contracts can give to politicians who grant the contracts. Surely a step in the right direction.   But, that said, while Representative Stam’s limiting donations to the Democratic Governor and folks in the Executive Branch…

Goodbye, Brad?

By Gary Pearce April 25, 2011

Democrats are speculating that Congressman Brad Miller won’t run again in 2012.   He’s raised only about $30,000 this cycle – less than most any Democratic incumbent. And he has told friends he expects that – just as he drew himself a good district when he chaired the state Senate redistricting committee – the Republicans…

Putting Pocketbooks First

By Gary Pearce April 22, 2011

Sometimes you have to rise above principle.   That’s what Rep. Leo Daughtry and several Republican House members did this week when they voted to weaken the tort reform bill.   Normally, tort reform is an article of faith for Republicans. It’s not only in their platforms, it’s in their genetic code.   But that…

Bonehead Plays

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2011

It’s baseball season, and all across our land fans are enjoying hits, runs – and errors.   So it is in politics in North Carolina. Herewith, our Top 3 of the week.   Number 1, of course, has to be the pileup of errors by Governor Perdue and her staff over her whereabouts when the…

Obama’s Missing Story

By Gary Pearce April 20, 2011

On the off-chance Republicans don’t nominate Donald Trump and hand him reelection, President Obama needs a better story.   Not a better story about where he was born or how he grew up. A story line that explains the times we live in and where he thinks we should go.   All great Presidents develop…

$4.1 Million

By Carter Wrenn April 20, 2011

For years auto insurers have locked horns with Insurance Commissioners over raising car insurance premiums, but, now, Republican legislators are about to solve their problem – by getting the Insurance Commission out of the auto-insurers hair – a move the Commissioner says is dead certain sure to bring higher car insurance premiums.   The newspaper,…

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…