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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Bev and the Badgers

By Gary Pearce July 29, 2008

There aren’t too many surprises in the contribution reports from Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory. McCrory’s money is largely coming from Charlotte and the usual Republican suspects. Perdue’s money is largely coming from the East and the usual Democratic suspects. McCrory has Duke Energy, NASCAR and the Downtown Charlotte bank and brokerage boys. Perdue has…

Obama in Berlin

By Carter Wrenn July 29, 2008

I’ve decided to strike another blow for partisanship. Because Barack Obama’s really beginning to trouble me. Not content running for President of the United States, he’s now running for President or Prime Minister or whatever it is in Europe too. And his appeal seems to be intercontinental. Two hundred thousand Germans poured into a Berlin…

Turning Point?

By Gary Pearce July 29, 2008

When the histories of the 2008 presidential race are written, last week may be seen as the turning point. No, the polls won’t show it yet. They may look more like 1980, which was a dead heat between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter until everything broke Reagan’s way the final weekend. Then, as now, voters…

Kay Hagan Rewrites a Little History

By Carter Wrenn July 28, 2008

Sometimes you have to wonder what planet politicians come from. Everyone living on Planet Earth knows the North Carolina Senate isn’t anything like a summer camp of fellowship and bi-partisan comity. For a decade Democratic wheelhorse Marc Basnight has passed down orders and the boys have lined up like a cadre of linebackers and rolled…

Will the Real Politician Please Stand Up?

By Carter Wrenn July 28, 2008

Gary, I’m going to agree. John McCain’s a flip-flopper. The old admiral is zigging and zagging. But a bit of the shine’s rubbing off Obama’s apple too. After a year of telling everyone who’d listen how he’s going to get us out of the war, His Nimbleness just said – in Baghdad, no less –…

Enquirer Exclusive

By Carter Wrenn July 25, 2008

Wednesday morning when I got to the office a newspaper headline was waiting on my desk: SEN. JOHN EDWARDS CAUGHT WITH MISTRESS AND LOVE CHILD. My first thought, since it was a National Enquirer Celebrity Exclusive, was to tell myself, You may not like Edwards but these folks believe in Martians. Or at least they…

Blonde Jokes

By Carter Wrenn July 25, 2008

I guess whenever someone says they oppose bullying gays, then turns around and says in the next breath they also oppose a law that says, No bullying gays, that gives folks reason to pause. Anyway, when I did it, it gave Brunette (who regularly posts here and whom I enjoy reading) qualms. She wrote: “Carter,…

Surging

By Gary Pearce July 24, 2008

Unless he trips coming around third base, Barack Obama has hit a grand slam with his grand tour. The pictures are the story. Obama conferring with foreign leaders. Getting off a presidential-looking jet. Carrying a flak jacket. Riding in military helicopters. Listening to military commanders. Greeting troops. Sinking three-pointers. Obama looked like a President. Meanwhile,…

Who Flip-Flops?

By Gary Pearce July 23, 2008

The only card McCain and the GOP have to play against Obama is the flip-flop charge that Carter & Co. used so effectively against Jim Hunt in 1984. The irony is laughable. McCain could give lessons in flip-flopping. The Bush challenger of 2000 is the Bush lackey of 2008. The opponent of Bush’s tax cuts…

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…