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 New WRAL

By Gary Pearce February 26, 2010

Jesse Helms is probably rolling over in his recording studio.   WRAL, the station that used to run Helms’ editorials opposing desegregation, is now running editorial messages opposing resegregation.   That’s how much Jim Goodmon has changed the station.   (Does anybody remember when WRAL used to sign off at night by playing “Dixie” instead…

Flights of Fancy

By Gary Pearce February 25, 2010

The State Democratic Party gets an A+ for rapid response this week.   I blogged last week that the N&O overplayed Tom Fetzer’s questions about Governor Perdue’s campaign flights.   The research rats at Democratic HQ then turned up questions about Pat McCrory’s campaign flights. That led to an N&O headline – the same size…

A New Day in the Senate?

By Carter Wrenn February 25, 2010

Up in Washington last weekend at the Conservative Political Action Conference every time Scott Brown’s name was mentioned the conservative hordes let out a bellow of approval – but, then, two days later Brown voted with the Democrats in the Senate to end a filibuster against President Obama’s latest ‘Stimulus Bill’ and Democratic leader Harry…

Open Wide

By Gary Pearce February 25, 2010

President Obama may be setting up Republicans for a classic one-two punch.   First, the left jab: an open, public “discussion” where he challenges Republicans to put their ideas on the table. That’s what they said they wanted, isn’t it?   Then, the right uppercut: ramming a health-care bill through using something called “reconciliation.”  …

Tiger and Toyota PR

By Gary Pearce February 24, 2010

PR types like to speculate about what they would advise Toyota and Tiger Woods to do in their times of trouble. (Imagine the fees!)   For all the ridicule and criticism, I think Tiger made a good first step in his televised mea culpa.   But Toyota still can’t get it right.   The myth…

The Pot and the Kettle

By Gary Pearce February 23, 2010

Senator Richard Burr wins this week’s hypocrisy award hands down.   Formally entering his race for reelection, Burr said something needs to be done to break the “gridlock” in Congress.   This, mind you, is the same man who has dutifully followed his party’s lead in gridlocking budget reform, health-care reform and anything else that…

Diagnosis Confusion

By Gary Pearce February 23, 2010

The N&O/WTVD poll on health care left me totally confused.   The poll, done by Mason-Dixon, “found that 51 percent of registered voters in North Carolina think Congress should not change the U.S. health care system this year. Thirty-eight percent think that lawmakers should take action.”   But then the story went on: “The poll…

A Pretty Bad Mistake

By Carter Wrenn February 22, 2010

Sometimes a story floats in over the transom that’s just too incredible to pass up; – this one came at the expense of Bank of America, which certainly doesn’t need any more headaches after being sued by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for fraud, plus a whooping $16 billion.   Charlie Cordosa, who used…

Message Misery

By Gary Pearce February 22, 2010

The best message in politics is always: “It’s Time for a Change.”   That worked like a charm for Democrats in 2006 and 2008. Voters were anxious, angry and ready to throw out the bums in power in Washington.   Nothing has changed this year – except Democrats are now the bums in power.  …

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…