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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The Eye of the Beholder

By Carter Wrenn April 6, 2010

Yesterday I wrote about how one of my Republican friend’s is convinced to pay for Obamacare the Democrats are going to slash Medicare $500 billion – by kicking old people off their respirators; then, the next morning, I opened the newspaper and right there on page one was a Democrat who had a pretty odd…

Kick ’em off their Respirators

By Carter Wrenn April 5, 2010

The other day a friend sent me an article saying Obamacare cut Medicare $500 billion. I wrote back and asked, Exactly what Medicare treatments for patients did Obama cut?   Back came another email with an article attached written by a lady, the former Lt. Governor of New York, who said Obama has set up…

Why So Angry?

By Gary Pearce April 5, 2010

There’s a lot of free-floating anger in America today. We saw it throughout the health-care debate. And Republicans are counting on it to fuel big election wins in November.   It’s mostly on the right side of the spectrum. I see it in comments on this blog.   Frank Rich wrote recently in The New…

Bev and the Scandal Makers

By Carter Wrenn April 2, 2010

Back on Election Night in the euphoria of just being elected North Carolina’s first woman Governor Beverly Perdue told reporters a new day was dawning in state government and the one thing she wasn’t going to tolerate was even a ‘whiff’ of corruption.   Since then the Governor has had a tough year.   She…

Edge of the Storm?

By Carter Wrenn April 1, 2010

A couple of months ago the Supreme Court decided corporations – like people who talk and breathe and walk around on two legs – have an inalienable right to free speech, including the right to criticize politicians they don’t like all they want.   Now, back when the court ruled that banks and insurance companies…

We Need TV!

By Gary Pearce April 1, 2010

The Democratic primary for U.S. Senate here demonstrates why TV ads are important and valuable in politics, despite all the criticism they get.   Outside of the campaigns and the insiders, there is little energy and interest in the campaign.   Polls show undecided – or clueless – leading everybody.   The problem is money.…

Executive Dilemma

By Gary Pearce March 31, 2010

Aside from death-penalty cases, it’s the toughest decision governors make.   And that’s so regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat, named Holshouser, Hunt, Martin or Perdue.   The dilemma: A gubernatorial appointee is accused of an ethical – or even criminal – violation.   Immediately, the media demands that heads roll. Political opponents…

Fraud and Politics

By Carter Wrenn March 30, 2010

Governor Perdue waltzed over to Rex Hospital the other day and held a good old-fashioned photo-op (to boost her once again sagging poll numbers) and standing right there in front of the operating room in front of the cameras she morphed into Jesse Helms – announcing that one way or the other, come heck or…

Race to the Bottom

By Gary Pearce March 30, 2010

Several months ago, Governor Perdue summoned North Carolina business executives to an emergency phone call. The subject was a mystery. But when the Governor calls, you answer.   Instead of a big economic announcement, the CEOs listened patiently as the Governor proclaimed that the state was putting in its bid for “Race to the Top”…

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…