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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Three Tribes

By Carter Wrenn February 9, 2023

It’s an old story. In the Bible. Tribes battling in the Holy Land. Today, in our Holy Land, in Washington, three tribes rule: Democratic Politicians, their cousins Republican Politicians, and Showmen. Joe Biden’s the face of the first tribe; Kevin McCarthy’s the face of the second; Trump’s the face of the third. The first two…

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The Crazy Party

By Gary Pearce February 9, 2023

Returning to reality after a week off, I was struck by this from The New York Times report on President Biden’s State of the Union speech: “Republican lawmakers shouted both ‘liar’ and ‘bullshit’ at parts of Mr. Biden’s speech, and no one appeared shocked.” No one was shocked? Has the Republican Party gone off the…

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Choosing Between Evils

By Carter Wrenn February 1, 2023

An old-fashioned conservative, seven years ago in the Republican primary John cheered for Ted Cruz, scowled at Donald Trump; then a quirky thing happened: That fall, staring at Trump and Hillary on a debate stage, having to choose between two evils he picked Trump and, in the next breath, in his eyes Trump was no…

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Twisted Legacy

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2023

Narrow face, scar running down his nose, ending in a huge bulbous bump, living on Park Avenue Roy Cohn dodged the draft at the end of World War II; political gamesman, finagling, after he got a law degree he cut a deal, got a patronage job as Assistant US Attorney, landed in ‘The Trial of…

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David Price Made Politics Work

By Gary Pearce January 30, 2023

If you want to know politics at its best, study David Price. He was showered with well-earned praise when he retired from Congress earlier this month. But too few people fully appreciate what a force for good Price has been for so long – for the Triangle, for North Carolina, for the Democratic Party and,…

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History Repeating Itself

By Carter Wrenn January 30, 2023

Throwing his hat in the ring Josh Stein’s off and running for Governor; I got a surprise that day I met him years ago: Sitting on opposite sides of a table disagreeing, we argued – the surprise I got was his old-fashioned, soft-spoken, courtesy. I met Stein’s Republican opponent a decade later – Mark Robinson…

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How Much Hate?

By Gary Pearce January 29, 2023

Frank Bruni wrote in The New York Times this week that Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s candidacy for governor would raise “the question of how much bigotry and divisiveness Republican and independent voters in North Carolina are willing to endorse, indulge or be persuaded to overlook.” Well, North Carolina elected Jesse Helms (pictured) to the Senate…

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Biden vs. Putin and Republicans

By Gary Pearce January 27, 2023

Republicans revered Ronald Reagan for bringing down the Soviet Union, the “evil empire.” But Trump and MAGA Republicans swoon over Czar Putin’s iron-fisted rule, gay-bashing and bare-chested manliness. President Biden armed the Ukrainians and united the free world against Russia’s brutal invasion. Now he is sending Ukraine tanks. Courageous Ukrainians exposed Putin’s military as rotten,…

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Big Lawsuit

By Carter Wrenn January 27, 2023

A year ago the Republicans in the state legislature drew all the Republican Congressional districts they could. Democrats sued. And the State Supreme Court – controlled by Democrats – threw out Republican districts, drew districts that elected more Democrats. Unhappy Republican legislators sued, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule only state legislators can draw…

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Recessional

By Carter Wrenn November 11, 2024

The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient…

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Mistakes and Miss-Takes

By Gary Pearce November 10, 2024

Bert Bennett of Winston-Salem, the legendary political godfather to Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt, had a…

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Don’t Give Up

By Gary Pearce November 6, 2024

This is bad. Bad for America and for the world. Bad for women, for immigrants, for…

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