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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State of the Arts

By Gary Pearce April 19, 2010

When it comes to art and music, I’m as uncultured as you can get. But even I can appreciate the new North Carolina Art Museum.   It’s a stunning achievement for a state. And it’s mostly due to the persistence and political savvy of Larry Wheeler.   I suppose the Tea Party types would say…

Tea Time Part II

By Gary Pearce April 16, 2010

The revealing New York Times/CBS poll on the Tea Party demographics turned up two golden nuggets.    One explains their anger. The other exposes their hypocrisy.   The anger: 63 percent of Tea Partiers say Fox is their main news source. Even among Republicans, only 46 percent depend mainly on Fox.   A steady diet…

A Case for Roy Cooper

By Gary Pearce April 16, 2010

A wise old legal eagle points out a recent article in the National Law Journal that shreds the 18 showboating state attorneys generals who want to challenge the health-care reform law.   The article, written by a law professor at Washington & Lee, concludes:   “This complaint not only represents shockingly shoddy lawyering but should…

Tea Time

By Gary Pearce April 15, 2010

The Tea Party movement may return the Republican Party to power – or ruin it. Whichever, the Tea Party controls the GOP’s future.   If Mushmouth Mitch McConnell and Suntan John Boehner become majority leaders in the next Congress, they’ll have no choice but to walk the Tea Party line.   That would pretty much…

Cal’s Air War

By Gary Pearce April 13, 2010

Cal Cunningham officially becomes the front-runner in the Democratic Senate primary by getting on TV first.   But does a “war” message work in a Democratic primary?   Opponents argue that his service record won’t impress anti-war Democrats – that it will make him look too conservative.   I think it’s a strong ad. And…

A Pretty Strange Chapter in Republican Politics …

By Carter Wrenn April 10, 2010

The way Art Pope sees it his blasting Richard Morgan (because Richard blasted Governor Perdue) wasn’t defending Governor Perdue…   … but how did Perdue see it? “Well, miracles do happen!” the Governor chortled, delighted to have Pope’s support. What’s ironic about all this is for years Art’s been hammering Richard, saying he’s too cozy…

The New Buzzword

By Gary Pearce April 9, 2010

What is it with “narrative”?   We used to talk about “message” in campaigns. Now candidates have a “narrative.”   Rob Christensen did a recent column about the different “narratives” of the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.   “Message” implied issues. It implied addressing the concerns of voters.   “Narrative” implies telling a compelling story…

What’s Brad Reading?

By Carter Wrenn April 9, 2010

The other night I landed on Congressman Brad Miller’s website and down the right side of the page saw a dozen blogs Brad recommends people read. I clicked on one and landed on a page with an ad of two women hugging – advertising vacations for gays in Key West. Another ad recommended an Internet…

The Fetzer Factor

By Gary Pearce April 7, 2010

North Carolina Republicans have an asset this year Democrats don’t have: Tom Fetzer.   Fetzer is travelling around the state like a heat-seeking missile. His attacks on Governor Perdue make headlines week after week.   Democratic Chair David Young is a stark contrast. He’s clearly not comfortable playing the role of political hit man.  …

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…