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

Court Politics

By Gary Pearce 2019-02-15

Since 2010 Republicans have worked mightily to engineer a Republican Supreme Court in North Carolina. Now they’re shocked, shocked, that a Democratic governor appointed a Democratic Chief Justice. Elections have consequences, as they say.  A longtime court-watcher (a Democrat) told me that while Paul Newby has been on the Supreme Court longer than Cheri Beasley,…

Read More

Pelosi Saying No

By Carter Wrenn 2019-02-14

Last month in an internet ad run by his campaign during the shutdown President Trump said: ‘I want to be able to show Senate Democrats a list of the many American voters that will NOT be happy if the Wall isn’t built. I need YOUR NAME on the list. Sign our official petition to the…

Read More

Moving Pelosi

By Carter Wrenn 2019-02-13

Before the government shutdown President Trump, defying the Democrats, walked out of a meeting and announced he’d continue the shutdown “for months or even years” – but Nancy Pelosi didn’t budge and then Ann Coulter, aghast when Trump folded and reopened the government, tweeted Trump was a ‘wimp’ and the Daily Caller added ‘Trump Caved.’…

Read More

Wrath

By Carter Wrenn 2019-02-12

Forty-six years ago J.I. Packer wrote, ‘If you want to see proof of the wrath of God just look at the world around you.’ Packer’s point was subtle: He wasn’t saying the world we see around us is a punishment caused by God’s wrath; he was saying when people ignore God, God lets them build…

Read More

Delaney in the Middle

By Gary Pearce 2019-02-07

John Delaney believes there’s a middle lane in the Democratic presidential race. Last Saturday his path brought him to Raleigh, and I had a chance to sit down with him. While some Democrats lurch to the left, Delaney says, “I’m a moderate.” He positions himself as a centrist problem-solver who can actually achieve the bipartisanship…

Read More

The New Democratic Faces

By Gary Pearce 2019-01-31

The contrast was stark when the new Congress convened this month. The Republican side was monochromatic: white men in dark suits. The Democratic side was diverse, varied and colorful – in clothing and complexion, age and gender, background and life experience. You’ll see the same contrast in the North Carolina General Assembly. You’ll see it…

Read More

Stoned and Stonewalled

By Gary Pearce 2019-01-28

Friday wasn’t Trump’s best day. Before dawn, Roger Stone surrendered to the FBI. Mid-afternoon, Trump surrendered to Nancy Pelosi. Stoned and stonewalled in less than 12 hours. Trump looked corrupt, clueless and – worst of all for him – weak. Corrupt because, even if there wasn’t a criminal conspiracy with Russia, there was a coverup.…

Read More

Forgiving Errant Tweets

By Carter Wrenn 2019-01-28

President Reagan threw the Russians into a somersault with two words – Star Wars – but then the Berlin Wall fell and the two words vanished. Thirty years later when North Korea started testing nuclear missiles I assumed we’d built Star Wars but no one knew about it because it was top secret – but…

Read More

Unbranding the Wall

By Carter Wrenn 2019-01-25

Trump’s trapped. After three years of rallies, tweets and boasts ‘The Wall’ now wears Trump’s brand like a Trump Tower Hotel. Trump and the Wall are one. If you like Trump, you like The Wall; if you dislike Trump, you dislike The Wall. Whether you’re for or against The Wall doesn’t have much to do…

Read More

The Past Returns

By Carter Wrenn 2024-05-20

A Hollywood star growled Trump’s like ‘Hitler’ on TV. Trump roared Biden’s a ‘total moron’ at…

Read More

No “Deceit and Betrayal”

By Gary Pearce 2024-05-20

Today’s blog, which responds to Carter’s post “Deceit and Betrayal,” was written by a thoughtful reader…

Read More

A Fallen World

By Carter Wrenn 2024-05-17

Trump slammed Kennedy. Biden slammed Kennedy. Kennedy told how a worm ate a piece of his…

Read More