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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

Bubba’s Back!

By Gary Pearce August 5, 2009

Wasn’t it great to see the Big Dog back again?   There was Bill Clinton – out of the doghouse and back in the limelight he so loves. Grinning. Biting his lip. Hugging Al Gore!   Bubba looked great. White hair shining. Aides (the small, dark-skinned guy was John “Skippy” Podesta, ex-Clinton COS and Obama…

Democratic Disaster?

By Gary Pearce August 5, 2009

I’ve got a bad feeling about this.   My hair’s standing up on my neck the way it did early in 1994. But four months earlier this time.   Obama is struggling to keep control of the agenda. August will be crucial. If the right-wing attacks on health care reform, deficits, cash-for-clunkers and “Not Born…

In a League of Her Own

By Carter Wrenn August 4, 2009

The most audacious woman ever to draw breath in North Carolina has now outdone herself and passed into the annals of political lore;—no one knows exactly how Mary Easley lit a fire under her easy-going husband but it’s a fact the Governor got stirred up enough to carve out a political sinecure for her over…

Burr’s Future

By Gary Pearce August 4, 2009

Richard Burr probably didn’t want to be running for reelection to the Senate next year. He hoped to be sitting in John McCain’s Cabinet. Or maybe presiding over the Senate as Vice President.   Why else did he campaign in the snows of New Hampshire – without socks – for McCain?   Alas, McCain picked…

The Limits of Reason

By Carter Wrenn August 3, 2009

A few days ago up in Washington the President got a visit from the Chinese; it seems China is holding $800 billion in U.S. government bonds (which basically means they’ve been loaning us the money to finance our national debt) so, naturally, about the last thing on earth they want is to see an outbreak…

Terrorists in Johnston?

By Gary Pearce August 3, 2009

Carter blogged last week that he was shocked that there were terrorists in Johnston County.   Hell, Carter, Johnston County has a long history of terrorists. They were called the Ku Klux Klan.   Well into the 50s – maybe later – there was an infamous billboard outside Smithfield: “Welcome to Klan Country.”   But…

Ken and Cal

By Gary Pearce July 31, 2009

Recently I blogged that, if Elaine Marshall gets in the Senate race, her candidacy should give pause to Ken Lewis and Cal Cunningham.   The reverse is also true.   Yes, Lewis and Cunningham are both unproven unknowns. But don’t overestimate how well known Marshall is. Or Richard Burr, for that matter.   In recent…

Welcome to Modern Times

By Carter Wrenn July 31, 2009

Good Lord: There’re terrorists in Johnston County. They’ve been sitting down there around a local fish pond for three years planning to go to Israel and blow someone (and themselves) sky high.    In the old days Johnston County was famous for Ava Gardner and world-class bootleggers but times have changed; now the home of…

The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight

By Carter Wrenn July 30, 2009

It’s a fact: One hand in Governor Perdue’s administration doesn’t have a clue what the other hand is doing. The Governor’s out telling everyone who’ll listen that if she doesn’t raise taxes a billion dollars she’s going to have to make terrible, terrible budget cuts – but the factotums in her administration seem determined to…

Political Shots Fired

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2026

The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…