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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Congressional Malpractice

By Gary Pearce January 25, 2010

President Obama made exactly the opposite mistake from Bill and Hillary Clinton on health-care reform.   The Clintons drew up a sweeping reform plan in secret, then sent it to Congress, where it died.   Obama let congressional Democrats come up with a reform plan. The first time it went to the voters, they voted…

Let’s Bribe the Taliban

By Carter Wrenn January 22, 2010

Here’s a sure sign we’re in deeper trouble in Afghanistan than anybody’s letting on: The Afghan government (no doubt with U.S. taxpayers’ money) is offering the Taliban soldiers cold hard cash to surrender or, better yet, switch sides; of course being blossoming Afghanistan politicians are wrapping all this up in Washington style rhetoric calling their plan…

Before We Vanish…

By Carter Wrenn January 22, 2010

For those inclined to believe in the infallibility of modern science here’s a cautionary tale.   A few years ago our scientists announced the Y chromosome – “the thing that makes a man male” – was a pretty poor creature; the Y chromosome, they said with conviction, was shrinking and in exactly 50,000 years would…

Fall of the Mighty

By Gary Pearce January 22, 2010

I’d give the front page of today’s N&O to any young person who aspires to go into politics.   Ruffin Poole, the “little Governor,” gets indicted on 51 counts of corruption.   Poole was Mike Easley’s “go-to guy.” Now he’s the guy the feds go to to get Easley.   John Edwards confesses, says he’s…

Sheriffs as Chauffeurs

By Carter Wrenn January 21, 2010

The other day over in Charlotte Governor Perdue called herself the ‘Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs Governor’ then chirruped she’s the education Governor but it doesn’t look like she’ll be calling herself the ‘Tough Crime Governor’ any time soon.   At least not according to the newspaper and – inadvertently – her Secretary-and-Former- Lobbyist of…

Obama as Hamlet

By Carter Wrenn January 21, 2010

President Obama just sent 30,000 soldiers to fight in Kabul so he’s got to be a little shocked to find himself branded as ‘soft’ on terrorism but there’s a reason:  Obama as Hamlet. Obama-of-the-Divided-Mind.   On one hand the President’s launching killer drones like crazy and dropping robot bombs out of the sky over Pakistan…

The Parent Trap

By Gary Pearce January 21, 2010

By now, North Carolinians can be forgiven for denying paternity of everybody involved in the John Edwards affair.   Edwards surprised no one by finally admitting he’s the father. At least he beat ex-gofer Andrew Young’s book to the punch.   Edwards had the good sense to fess up in a written statement – and…

The Reverend Whacks the Chairman

By Carter Wrenn January 20, 2010

One of the more dangerous varmints walking around on two legs is the good old-fashioned morally outraged Southern Demagogue and right now Reverend William Barber (head of the NAACP) fills the bill and he’s as mad as hell; the Reverend’s razor-tongued and ’fraid of nothing and he’s chomped down on school board Chairman Ron Margiotta…

Politics Perdue Style

By Carter Wrenn January 20, 2010

  Governor Perdue either has a new public relations guru or, suddenly, she’s started thinking in slogans because she’s firing them off rapid fire.   The other day down in Charlotte she let fly announcing her new education slogan: Ready. Set. Go.    Then she let loose on jobs chirruping our number one priority has…

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…