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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Quick Hits

By Gary Pearce October 2, 2008

Sarah Palin puts me in mind of a quote by Goethe, who apparently followed American politics very closely: “Nothing is more frightening than ignorance in action.” Maybe one thing more frightening for Democrats is Joe Biden’s mouth. When it comes to shooting himself in the foot, Biden uses a machine gun. Tonight’s debate will have…

A Brick from Skip

By Carter Wrenn September 30, 2008

I received a curious email, followed by a phone call, from Richard the Intellectual. Richard tends to watch politics from afar but something happened yesterday that left him completely, absolutely enraged. He got a brick in the mail from State House Republican Leader Skip Stam. That’s right, a brick. The kind, as Richard said, he…

Thirteen Days?

By Gary Pearce September 30, 2008

When I read James Romoser’s story in the Winston-Salem Journal about Senator Dole spending only 13 days in North Carolina during 2006, my immediate reaction was: “That’s an ad.” Thirteen days out of 365? Less than two weeks out of 52? This is a gift from the political gods to Kay Hagan’s campaign. Any bets…

Maybe It Is Change

By Carter Wrenn September 30, 2008

Who knows, this election may really be about change and not just political double talk about change from politicians reading polls. Or, at least, whether the politicians beating the “change drum” are sincere or not – the voters are dead serious. Which would explain some curious poll numbers we’re seeing right here in North Carolina.…

Who Gets It?

By Gary Pearce September 29, 2008

I miss Bill Clinton. Not the bad Bill, who can’t bring himself to say a good word about Obama or a bad word about McCain-Palin. But the good Bill. The only person in politics who can talk both intelligently and empathetically about The Problem and The People. That’s what this Great Financial Crisis – Depression…

Winners and Losers

By Gary Pearce September 26, 2008

While tonight’s debate could change everything, here are winners and losers in the wake of this week’s financial-political panic: Winner (for now): John McCain. Once again he stopped his precipitous slide in the polls. He put himself in the position to be the hero on the bailout, if it passes. Or to be the worst…

Democrats and Corruption

By Carter Wrenn September 25, 2008

Democrats in North Carolina have a long-running problem. There is a culture of corruption a mile wide and a mile deep that runs right through the heart of their politics. The core of their problem is how they raise the money that pays for their political operations, from the North Carolina Democratic Party to their…

Who’s the Democrat?

By Gary Pearce September 24, 2008

Pat McCrory’s ad has the same message as Barack Obama: It’s time for a change. Therein may lie Bev Perdue’s challenge. Public Policy Polling found that she is weak with Democrats around Charlotte. Question: Do they know she’s the Democrat and McCrory’s the Republican? Like Obama, McCrory is calling for change. Like Obama, McCrory is…

Crash Politics

By Gary Pearce September 23, 2008

Rob Christensen compared this year’s election to 1992 – 16 years ago. I’d go back another 60 years – to 1932. Americans were in a panic about the economy. The Republican candidate for president was an experienced, respected veteran of Washington who believed the fundamentals of the economy were sound. The Democrat was a relatively…

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…

Faith in Politics

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2026

Jim Hunt would like James Talarico winning the Democratic primary in Texas. Like Talarico, the late…

Stein’s Clout

By Gary Pearce March 6, 2026

Governor Josh Stein had a good day Tuesday, and there’s good news for him in our…