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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BANGO!

By Gary Pearce March 8, 2024

President Biden’s feisty, fiery, funny State of the Union sent me back to one of the best political books ever: What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer, about the 1988 presidential candidates, including Biden. Cramer wrote this about “Joey” Biden growing up in Scranton, PA: “You didn’t want to fight him. Most guys who got…

Poll Watch

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2024

High Point University hit a low point in polling. Last Friday, four days before Tuesday’s primary, the HPU poll reported this in the Democratic race for N.C. Attorney General: Satana Deberry       31% Tim Dunn                  33% Jeff Jackson              36% The poll was right on the money. About Deberry. She got 33% of the vote.…

Time to Choose

By Gary Pearce March 6, 2024

After Tuesday’s primaries, the choice is clear for North Carolina and the nation. It’s Democratic reason versus Republican rage. It’s real action on real problems versus revenge and retribution. It’s the difference between President Biden and Donald Trump – and between Josh Stein and Mark Robinson. Democrats want government to attack economic insecurity, ignorance, hunger,…

Iran

By Carter Wrenn March 4, 2024

Back when the Shah ruled Iran Ali Khamenei was arrested six times, exiled. The Shah fell, Khamenei returned home, became president of Iran. An assassin set a tape recorder with a bomb inside in front of him – the bomb exploded, mutilated his arm. After Iran’s first Ayatollah died, Khamenei became the Supreme Leader. His…

Young Dems on Fire

By Gary Pearce March 4, 2024

It took a London newspaper to report this political story: “In a hotel ballroom situated between Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina, a sea of buzzing young liberals excitedly took selfies and exchanged Instagram handles. Wrists decorated with Taylor Swift bracelets hit against one another as baby-faced teens and twentysomethings dressed in business casual applauded…

Losing It

By Gary Pearce March 1, 2024

Trump may have the Republican nomination locked up, but he’s losing a lot of Republicans. He lost 32% of the Republican vote in Michigan, 40% in South Carolina and over 45% in New Hampshire. In South Carolina, he lost Independents to Nikki Haley by 60-40. That’s how you lose in November. He’s also losing his…

A Tough Question

By Carter Wrenn February 29, 2024

A reporter asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, “Do you believe Biden’s presidency is God’s will?’ Johnson said he’s a Bible believing Christian and the Bible says God’s sovereign so, yes, Biden’s election was God’s will. Steve Bannon the MAGA Trumpster erupted on his podcast, ‘Be prepared for your heads to blow up,’ played the video…

The New Era

By Carter Wrenn February 28, 2024

Ukraine. Israel. Two wars that look different but have a lot in common. In both wars China, Russia, and Iran are on one side – while we’re on the other. China, Russia, and Iran are all dictatorships – while we’re a democracy. Three decades of peace followed the end of the Cold War – a…

Idols

By Carter Wrenn February 27, 2024

In ancient times men worshiped idols made of stone or gold, like the ‘Golden Calf’ the Israelites bowed to at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Time rolled by and ideologies (promising salvation) took the place of golden idols. Surrounded by threats, with Christianity waning, fearful men now cling to ideologies – E.D.I., Wokeness, other political…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…

Rise and Fall

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2026

A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…