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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Mayor Crowder

By Carter Wrenn February 13, 2008

Raleigh’s realtors and homebuilders, unless they wake up politically, are about to get another does of castor oil from the City Council. After trouncing ‘developers’ in the last two elections the Mayor’s got a Council that’s more anti-growth – than, well, Charles Meeker. In fact, once the Council’s new ringleader, Thomas Crowder, gets through bashing…

Cooking the Math

By Carter Wrenn February 12, 2008

Fox News has a new pundit: Karl Rove. After Super Tuesday, whipping out a white chalkboard, writing columns of numbers, he made his first prognostication on Hannity and Colmes, declaring Mike Huckabee is kaput. Rove said – according to the math – Huckabee must win 83% of remaining delegates – an impossibility. In his words…

How North Carolina Can be ‘The Decider’

By Gary Pearce February 12, 2008

The Clinton-Obama race is about two things: delegates and momentum. On both counts, North Carolina’s primary election counts. Here’s why. After today’s Potomac Primary – with 238 delegates – five big primaries are left: Wisconsin, next Tuesday, 92 delegates Ohio, March 4, 161 delegates Texas, also March 4, 228 delegates Pennsylvania, April 22, 188 delegates…

Where is Obama When We Need Him?

By Carter Wrenn February 12, 2008

The monster is back. Last year the federal government, which will waste money on almost anything, refused to fund Lite-Rail for the Triangle because it was too wasteful. Humbled, Mayor Meeker and other Lite-Rail boosters appointed a study commission and they’ve given us a seminar on how government shouldn’t work. The commission studied the problem.…

The Mind Reels

By Gary Pearce February 11, 2008

North Carolina’s Democratic politicos and media types are in a frenzy over the presidential primary. As Rob Christensen wrote Sunday, the circus is coming to town! So here’s what we’re working on, as they say on TV. Will North Carolina pick the nominee? Has our time come? Or will our moment be stolen from us?…

Raleigh City Council District D

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2008

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker’s close amigo City Councilman Thomas Crowder has a plan to raise ‘Impact Fees’ – and it should warm the hearts of the Mayor’s developer-contributors downtown. Instead of raising the fees (taxes) on everyone Crowder wants a tiered plan. Which means different fees for different folks. Who pays more? And who pays…

Democrats: Marching Off the End of the World?

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2008

It’s hard not to like Barack Obama. Or admire his success. Or perseverance. Or eloquence. But I’m beginning to have a feeling of déjà vu. Every two decades or so the Democratic Party erupts and gives birth to a candidate who sets Democrats all aquiver in the pits of their liberal souls. Remember Eugene McCarthy?…

A New Democratic Scandal

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2008

If the News & Observer is not careful pretty soon folks on Governor Easley’s Board of Transportation are going to be calling it a Republican newspaper. The N & O has grabbed a tiger by the tail. A few years ago the legislature passed a law requiring DOT Board members to report how much money…

A Bit of Stress for Democrats

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2008

There are more cross currents in the Democratic Presidential primaries than a hurricane. It’s got everything. Race. Sex. Money. Brittany Spears must be next. Let’s – gingerly – explore race. Hispanics vote for Hillary (or, more to the point, against Obama) two to one. Asian-Americans vote for Hillary (and against Obama) eight to one. African-Americans…

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,…