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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U-turn

By Gary Pearce July 20, 2010

Governor Perdue made the right move in removing Colonel Glover from the Patrol.   By the way, don’t believe for a minute it was Glover’s idea – or that the Governor was “surprised.” These things don’t work that way.   Unfortunately, she reversed direction a week later than she should have. This should have happened…

Rare Old Bird

By Gary Pearce July 20, 2010

Here’s a nice compliment – and a striking statistic – from a reader:   “According to today’s (New York) Times only 7.1 percent of all bloggers are over the age of 51. You have always been ahead of the curve!”   And I blew past 51 long ago.

Stooping Low

By Carter Wrenn July 20, 2010

Everyday the bru-ha-ha between our local Progressives and the Italian transplants on the School Board gets more entertaining – the whole thing’s turned into a microcosm of modern life with far-left Liberals, Democrats, Progressives, Italians, Southerners, far-right Republicans, NAACP Reverends, a Duke Professor and a liberal Baptist Church all going at one another tooth and…

Praying in the State House

By Carter Wrenn July 19, 2010

Back in May the State House invited Reverend Ron Baity down to Raleigh (from his Baptist Church in Winston-Salem) to be Chaplain for a week but when the minister got up and ended his first prayer with “In Jesus name” House Speaker Jack Hackney promptly fired him.   Because, Hackney says, by tradition prayers in…

Obama and Wall Street

By Carter Wrenn July 19, 2010

The anti-Wall Street talking Obama administration just let Goldman Sachs off the hook for bilking investors for billions with a wrist slap.   Now, granted a $550 million fine sounds like real money.  But consider this:  It’s less than 5% of Goldman Sachs $12 billion in profits.   And not one Goldman Sachs executive got…

Who Can You Trust?

By Gary Pearce July 17, 2010

It’s a bad time for once-trusted institutions.   Highway Patrol: Yes, the vast majority of the line troopers are courageous and honorable. That’s why they – and the public – and mad at the people at the top.   UNC-TV: Pulled off a rare two-fer by looking both unprofessional AND spineless. It’s bad when your…

Surprise and Wonder

By Carter Wrenn July 16, 2010

Politicians, like most people, are creatures of habit plodding along each day going through the same routines day in and day out – then just when you figure there are no surprises left in human nature (or, at least, in politicians) somewhere deep in subterranean caverns tides shift and suddenly you find yourself staring open-mouthed…

911

By Gary Pearce July 16, 2010

One of the hardest things to do in politics – when a “crisis” comes at you every day, or every hour – is to recognize when you face a truly defining moment.   Governor Perdue faces one now with the Highway Patrol. How she handles it could determine the course of her governorship – and…

Uh-oh

By Gary Pearce July 15, 2010

A veteran Democratic politico asked me this week: “Are you feeling as bad about this coming election as I am?”   Yep. Especially after this report on the state parties’ fundraising byJim Morrill in the Charlotte Observer/N&O:   “The Republican Party, meanwhile, has raised more than $1 million since January 2009 to Democrats’ $649,000, though…

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…