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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Corporations and Politics

By Carter Wrenn February 3, 2010

I’ve been reading about the recent Supreme Court decision that says corporations can spend as much as they want to elect politicians.   Now, pragmatically, there’s not much to doubt this ruling is going to be a financial windfall to anyone in the political consulting business. And, theoretically, I’ve got to say more freedom of…

Brad and the Banks

By Carter Wrenn February 2, 2010

Here’s another example of a politician trying to have his cake and eat it too: The other day Congressman Brad Miller bemoaned the Supreme Court ruling on corporations spending money in elections then wailed he’s in hot water because he’s made the banks mad, saying, “I’ve made a real nuisance of myself to the most…

Blaming Bush

By Gary Pearce February 2, 2010

I have a real problem with the way President Obama blamed George Bush for the budget deficit in his State of the Union speech.   But my objection is directly opposite Republicans’. I don’t think Obama blamed Bush enough.   As I recall, Ronald Reagan was still blaming Jimmy Carter and the Democrats for everything…

Just Another Washington Politician

By Carter Wrenn February 2, 2010

Over the last year with every breath he’s  taken the President’s shown a burning faith in government (led by enlightened politicians) as the engine of progress – his faith has been so overwhelming he’s fearlessly taken government into recesses of American life where no President ever dared tread.   But, the other night, Obama the…

Sex in Juvenile Prison?

By Carter Wrenn February 1, 2010

Awhile back the newspapers were running horror stories about patients in state mental hospitals being sexually attacked, beaten and even dying due to neglect – the whole thing sounded like a nightmare straight out of 19th century mental asylums.   Now the newspapers are running horror stories about juvenile prisons for young girls – and…

Shelter From the Storm

By Gary Pearce February 1, 2010

A reader was not impressed by Governor Perdue’s performance this weekend: “She returned from her warm weather vacation to be a leader and then didn’t look much like one.”   At least she came back.   I don’t begrudge a governor ever taking a vacation. But you take a chance when you go someplace warm…

Another Victim

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2010

I told myself I wouldn’t post another word about John Edwards.   But then I spent an hour on the phone with a disillusioned former staffer from Edwards’ presidential campaign.   This young man now finds himself unemployable. “Former John Edwards staffer” doesn’t look so good on a resume.   He began to have doubts…

A Young Man in a Political Maze

By Carter Wrenn January 29, 2010

When Ruffin Poole was twenty-five years old and fresh out of law school he went to work for Mike Easley; he’s thirty-seven now and indicted for 51 counts of everything from extortion to racketeering and could go to prison for 85 years.   What went wrong – for a small town boy from Kinston? For…

Mirror, Mirror…

By Carter Wrenn January 29, 2010

No one was much surprised when John Edwards fessed up and said he was the father of Rielle Hunter’s daughter – but nothing involving John Edwards ever seems to run along the straight and narrow path and sure enough there was an odd line in Edwards’ confession that twisted contrition into a knot.   Here’s…

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…