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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Everybody Wins

By Gary Pearce May 25, 2007

The Iraq-money vote turned out to be a winner for everybody in Washington. George Bush and his diminishing band of supporters got their money without any real strings. Nervous congressional Democrats inoculated themselves against campaign charges that they voted against money for the troops. Hillary and Obama and Pelosi and Reid get to tell the…

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Democrats Should Pump It Up

By Gary Pearce May 25, 2007

In honor of Memorial Day, congressional Democrats decided they were better off politically not to be seen as cutting off money for American troops in Iraq. That’s smart. It’s also smart to jump on another issue that resonates at Memorial Day: gas prices. A very smart North Carolina Democrat asked me this week, “Why haven’t…

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A Political Grab

By Carter Wrenn May 24, 2007

The Democrats want to give North Carolina’s Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide. Instead of to the candidate who wins North Carolina. The Republicans of course are up in arms, making the Electoral College sound as sacrosanct as the College of Cardinals. Is the Democratic plan partisan? Yes. Does…

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Clueless?

By Carter Wrenn May 24, 2007

North Carolinians need look no further than Wednesday’s action by a state House Committee to confirm that the representatives are clueless about public dissatisfaction with the legislature. – Winston-Salem Journal May 21, 2007 Last week the State Board of Elections said Representative Thomas Wright had failed to report $220,000 in campaign donations. And that he…

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Bicoastal GOP?

By Gary Pearce May 24, 2007

With the passing of Jerry Falwell and the rise of Rudy Giuliani, is the Republican Party moving to the center while the Democratic Party moves to the left? That’s my nightmare scenario. Because the party of the center usually wins: witness Republicans in the 70s and 80s and Democrats in the 90s. I’ve reassured myself…

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John Edwards Makes $285,000

By Carter Wrenn May 23, 2007

Whatever fig leaf of credibility John Edwards had left is in tatters. Consider this report from a California blog. Edwards charges $55,000 to speak to UC Davis students about poverty. Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, who recently proposed an educational policy that urged “every financial barrier” be removed for American kids who want to go…

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The Answer to Rising Gas Prices

By Carter Wrenn May 23, 2007

In the last week gas prices have risen seventeen cents. They’ve risen thirty-four cents in the past month. The last time that happened the oil industry said it was Hurricane Katrina. Which made sense. The Gulf of Mexico is full of oil rigs. So the solution was to grin and bear it. But why are…

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Did Democrats Cave In?

By Gary Pearce May 23, 2007

Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team sure looked beaten when they went before the press to explain – and defend – their deal with President Bush and the Republicans on Iraq. It’s easy to see why: they had surrendered on the fight for troop-withdrawal deadlines. Pelosi said she might vote against it herself. Congressmen Obey…

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A Nice Word for Russ Stephenson

By Gary Pearce May 22, 2007

Russ Stephenson, the at-large Raleigh city councilman, told my mother he hopes I’ll say something nice about him in my blog. So here goes. I’ve had some criticism of Russ. I think he – and too much of the current council – is too downtown-focused. As a Democrat, I’m concerned that Russ and some of…

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Wake Up, America

By Carter Wrenn March 17, 2025

A dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, locked down during COVID, he called, surprised me asking: ‘Ford beat Reagan in…

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Hope

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2025

I have hope – despite what Trump is doing. I have hope because of what he’s…

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Education Governor

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2025

With a better General Assembly, Josh Stein could join Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford on North…

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