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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The Circus Might Not Be Coming

By Gary Pearce February 27, 2008

We apparently got all excited over nothing. North Carolina’s presidential primary may not matter after all. If Hillary Clinton loses Texas next Tuesday – as looks increasingly likely – the air will go out of our balloon. Obama campaign insiders are confident about Texas – and expect a close race in Ohio. Clinton campaign insiders…

Iraq in October

By Carter Wrenn February 27, 2008

Imagine this: Barack Obama and John McCain are debating in October. Senator McCain says: ‘As I said at the time, early in the war we made mistakes in Iraq. But we’ve learned. We’re on the right track. The surge is working.’ Obama says: ‘It that’s correct then tell me one thing – give me one…

Obi-wan Obama

By Carter Wrenn February 26, 2008

Senator Barack Obama told supporters Sunday in Ohio: “I don’t think NAFTA has been good for American’s, and I never have.” But, four years ago, during his Senate race in Illinois, “Obama touted the benefits from United States exports under NAFTA” and the Associated Press reported “that Obama favored pursuing trade deals such as NAFTA.”…

Tarred and Feathered

By Carter Wrenn February 26, 2008

North Carolina chicken king Edgar Marvin Johnson must feel like he’s been tarred and feathered by The Charlotte Observer. If the Observer’s reports are correct it’s hard to imagine even Johnson’s own mother buying a chicken from his House of Raeford Farms. According to the Observer, Johnson is akin to the worst villain Upton Sinclair…

The Liberals Turn on Meeker

By Carter Wrenn February 25, 2008

You can’t help but be intrigued – if by nothing else – by the irrationality of local politics. The last three elections Mayor Meeker has swept himself, and his allies, into office as no-growth, anti-evil developer, pro-sugar plum fairy candidates. But now we learn – from a charter-member of the Mayor’s anti-growth club – liberal…

Drescher Calls Out Easley

By Gary Pearce February 25, 2008

Since Claude Sitton retired from The News & Observer, North Carolina editors have been an invisible lot. John Drescher may be changing that pattern. Drescher, who recently became executive editor at The N&O, publicly called out Governor Easley twice this weekend. In his column and on the air, Drescher challenged Easley to answer questions about…

Senator McCain and The Times

By Carter Wrenn February 25, 2008

The New York Times, conservative pundits are arguing, duplicitously helped John McCain win Republican primaries then cut him off at the knees once he had the nomination all but sewed up. They say The Times endorsed McCain in the New York primary, withheld a damaging story while he fought for his political life in New…

Ann, Rush, Laura — and Jack

By Carter Wrenn February 22, 2008

Ann Coulter says – given their stands on issues – she might as well vote for Hillary as John McCain. Rush Limbaugh says he thinks we’re out of luck this election – there is no conservative choice. And Laura Ingram says, Amen. Equally vociferous, on the other side of the equation, Jack Kemp – who…

Richard Moore: Stonewalling?

By Carter Wrenn February 22, 2008

Here’s an unusual political twist: Ten weeks before the Democratic primary the North Carolina State Employees Association, a politically powerful, mostly-Democratic group spent $30,000 on a newspaper ads attacking State Treasurer Richard Moore – a Democratic candidate for Governor. SEANC has a bone to pick with Treasurer Moore – who manages their $75 billion pension…

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…

Too Long

By Gary Pearce March 5, 2026

 “For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph,…