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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Mad Hatters

By Gary Pearce June 8, 2010

Rob Christensen’s column about the GOP’s 13th Congressional District primary was insightful about the inside-Beltline versus outside-Beltline dynamic at play – the same divide that plays out in the WakeCounty school board fight.   There are two other interesting aspects to the battle: race and radicalism.   There’d be no end to the irony of…

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Cansler’s Deposition Part Two

By Carter Wrenn June 7, 2010

Back at the end of February Secretary Lanier Cansler was deposed and the lawyer doing the deposing asked him under oath what clients he’d represented as a lobbyist (before he was Secretary), and if any of them, back then,  had done business with DHHS.    “Let’s see,” Cansler said, “clients I did was – Computer…

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From Scoop to Flack

By Gary Pearce June 7, 2010

A veteran PR pro here says that when she used to get a call from a reporter, she wondered what story they were working on. Now, she wonders who’s looking for a job.   Mark Johnson of The Charlotte Observer/News & Observer is the latest to leave. I haven’t talked to Mark about his decision,…

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Cansler’s Deposition

By Carter Wrenn June 4, 2010

Last summer, for reasons that aren’t quite clear, Secretary Lanier Cansler and his Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and aides trooped over to the General Assembly and told legislators they had a report that absolutely, conclusively, without a doubt proved 45% of the Medicaid patients who were receiving in home care were chiselers.   Of course,…

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Blame the Republicans

By Gary Pearce June 4, 2010

The White House needs to go on offense on the Gulf oil spill.   Democrats, all too often, are weenies when it comes to political combat. They want to be fair, see all sides and over-intellectualize.   It’s time for a go-for-the-gut message: Blame the Republicans.   Here’s how it goes:   This all started…

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X Factors

By Gary Pearce June 3, 2010

X factors are the spice of politics – and the bane of political operatives.   X factors are the unexpected events that disrupt the best-laid plans of campaign consultants and political consultants, who are the world’s greatest control freaks.   The classic X factor was the economic collapse that decided the 2008 presidential election by…

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Grasping for Negatives

By Gary Pearce June 2, 2010

I had my hopes up. For a few minutes, I thought the Senate primary was going to get down, dirty and negative – just the way I like them.   Wednesday morning, Cal Cunningham’s campaign sent out a breathless email denouncing a “negative letter the Marshall campaign just sent to many of our supporters, attacking…

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The Lost Ark

By Carter Wrenn June 2, 2010

I reckon there’s no doubt the folks showing up at Tea Party rallies have the politicians in Washington – both Republican and Democrat – all shook up but, at the same time, I’ve got a feeling the Tea Partiers may be facing a hard lesson of their own:  That sometimes it’s the fellow sitting in…

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Broke

By Gary Pearce June 2, 2010

Oil still gushes into the Gulf of Mexico, courtesy of BP – “Broken Pipe.” So many dollars, debt and deficits gush out of Washington that the country looks broke.   Even Al and Tipper broke up.   This is a scary scenario for President and Obama and the Democrats (except for the Gore split). Nothing…

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Signals Crossed

By Gary Pearce March 27, 2025

Who among us hasn’t accidentally hit “reply all” on a group text or email? Or sent…

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Deporting Gang Members

By Carter Wrenn March 26, 2025

The problem’s not Trump deporting Tren de Aragua gang members – that’s a good idea. The…

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An Old Doctrine

By Carter Wrenn March 24, 2025

Politics just gets stranger and stranger. Trump ordered around 200 Tren de Aragua gang members deported…

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