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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One Up on P.T. Barnum

By Carter Wrenn September 14, 2009

  As if Governor Perdue’s not singlehandedly doing enough to sink the Democrats next election (with her 25% Favorable to 50% Unfavorable) former Governor Easley is lending a hand.   Not even P.T. Barnum pulled off what Easley ahs done: Going to a real estate closing to buy a half-a-million dollar lot with borrowed money…

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Persuader-in-Chief

By Carter Wrenn September 11, 2009

Never underestimate a President who can talk eloquently about moral issues.   It’s easy to forget that. We haven’t had a President who could do it for 20 years – since Ronald Reagan left the White House.   The Bushes could hardly put together a coherent sentence. Yes, Bill Clinton could talk a blue streak.…

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No Tears for Ted

By Gary Pearce September 11, 2009

  One of the great falsehoods peddled by Jim Hunt-haters – and repeated in a recent comment on this site – is that he cried after Ted Kennedy’s speech to the 1980 convention.   Sorry, haters. It didn’t happen.   I was there. Standing beside Hunt on the floor of Madison Square Garden during Kennedy’s…

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Obama Speaks

By Carter Wrenn September 10, 2009

Watching President Obama give a speech is sort of like it used to be watching Reggie Jackson play baseball – I’m no Yankees fan but at times watching Reggie (like in the World Series game when he hit three homeruns) could be pretty amazing.   Plus, President Obama has guts, which is about the rarest…

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The Cost of Health Care

By Gary Pearce September 10, 2009

One of the smartest people I know in the health-care field is Bill Atkinson, CEO of WakeMed.   Not long ago, he made a point that gets little attention in today’s debate: That most American families – no matter how well off – are one major illness from financial ruin.   The debate seems to…

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Bev’s Money Dilemma

By Gary Pearce September 9, 2009

  Governor Perdue has plenty of education-budget headaches – like whether local school districts are laying off teachers.   Getting less attention is the near-panic among health and human-services advocates over draconian state budget cuts. Especially with North Carolina facing swine-flu fears, an aging population and serious mental-health needs.   Budget reform – whatever that…

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Knuckleheads

By Gary Pearce September 8, 2009

  I had no idea what a powerful and persuasive speaker President Obama is.   According to Tom Fetzer & Co., if Obama gets the chance to address America’s schoolchildren, he will turn them into socialists.   Wow.   Especially with a subversive message like: study hard, stay in school and set goals for success.…

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Senator Wicker?

By Gary Pearce September 4, 2009

One Big Name mentioned as a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate should be taken seriously: Dennis Wicker.   Wicker reminds me of Jim Hunt circa 1992. Wicker has grown since an election defeat eight years earlier. The lessons from that loss – plus his experience in the private sector – could make him a stronger candidate…

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Storm Clouds Over Democrats

By Carter Wrenn September 3, 2009

President Obama swept into the White House not riding a pro-Obama wave but riding an anti-Bush tide. Now, Bush is gone and after nine months of marching straight left Obama’s setting off tides of his own and his popularity is vanishing faster than any newly elected President since the dawn of the Age of Polling.…

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Out of Touch

By Gary Pearce February 20, 2025

I’ve resisted the temptation to rail every day about Trump’s cruelty, corruption and incompetence – and…

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Jeanette Hyde

By Gary Pearce February 14, 2025

Jeanette Hyde went from Miss Yadkin County to Madam Ambassador. Hyde, who died Monday at age…

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The Best Way to Steal an Election

By Carter Wrenn February 13, 2025

We’ve heard a lot about stolen votes – but here’s the best way to steal an…

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