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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Resegregating Raleigh’s Schools?

By Carter Wrenn February 12, 2009

It’s always seemed there might be a little bit of hoax about the Wake County School Board’s ‘diversity’ policy – that the policy was really about race and not academics (as the board has argued for years). The board has made its case like this: It says it buses students based on their family incomes…

Heath’s Errant Play

By Gary Pearce February 12, 2009

As an NFL quarterback, Health Shuler had a reputation for making bad throws. As a politician, he may have just thrown himself out of the 2010 Senate race. Shuler voted against the stimulus bill in the House, one of a handful of Democrats to cross party lines on the vote. That’s not inconsistent with the…

A Strange Cure

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2009

Most times, to me a Jamaican voodoo doctor rattling chicken bones makes as much sense as an economist, and I’d say there is a greater probability the voodoo doctor’s predictions will come true. The fact is I simply do not understand economics. It’s as much a mystery as astrology. Or tarot cards. Or a scientist…

Obama Dancing the Two-Step

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2009

Well, Gary gave President Obama rave reviews about Monday night’s press conference. I had a different – and apparently partisan – reaction. There was a time, not so long ago, when Obama talked a language that sounded a lot like plain everyday English but now, well, he’s taken to talking political-ese. High quality political-ese but…

Who Cares What Wall Street Thinks?

By Gary Pearce February 11, 2009

So Wall Street wasn’t happy with Obama’s bank-rescue plan. As one of my breakfast pals pointed out: “Didn’t Wall Street get us into this mess? Who are they to complain that the rescuers aren’t doing enough to save them from themselves?” The real question is what the American people think. Public Policy Polling found that…

Obama in the Minefield

By Carter Wrenn February 10, 2009

Well, it’s like déjà vu all over again. A Democratic congressman stands up, looks the president in the eye and says, I’m not for sending any more troops to fight until I see an exit plan. Only, this time, the president he’s looking in the eye is Obama and the war’s in Afghanistan, not Iraq.…

The Great Grab

By Carter Wrenn February 10, 2009

President Obama spent a lot of time last election railing against lobbyists. He said when he was elected he was going to tie them in knots. Curtail their mischief. Send them into political exile. But three months later, more than ever, government in Washington is about ‘the great grab.’ Lobbyists for special interests are lined…

Obama’s Bully Pulpit

By Gary Pearce February 10, 2009

President Obama demonstrated anew last night why he’s a political force not to be underestimated. Congressional Republicans need to reassess picking a fight with a President who is smart, articulate (and clean, as Joe Biden would say). Not to mention one who has the biggest microphone in the world. Obama made his reputation as an…

Bev’s Bad Trip

By Gary Pearce February 10, 2009

Most employers would look askance on a new employee who takes a week-long vacation after being on the job just over a month. So Governor Perdue is trying the good nature of North Carolina taxpayers this week. She has good arguments: She has been working hard. She’s off to a good start, most observers agree.…

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…

Rise and Fall

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2026

A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…