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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Where’s the Beef

By Carter Wrenn October 5, 2007

State Treasurer and candidate for Governor Richard Moore wants to dump Governor Charles Aycock’s name from the Democrats Annual Vance-Aycock Dinner. Governor Aycock (1900-04) is decidedly politically incorrect. He was a leader of the ‘red-shirt’ campaigns that disenfranchised black voters. But he was also the first in a long line of North Carolina’s education governors…

Mayor Meeker Gives a Lecture

By Carter Wrenn October 4, 2007

With no opponent to keep him busy this election Mayor Meeker is feeling his oats. Monday night he trooped over to the County Commissioners to give them a lecture. About spending. The Mayor’s philosophy on spending tax money is simple: Spend it. Spent it all. Spend it as quickly as possible. It, apparently, didn’t bother…

Josh Stein’s Fast Start

By Gary Pearce October 4, 2007

Josh Stein has always moved fast. And worked hard. He was the first hire in John Edwards’ 1998 Senate campaign – a novice who had never worked in politics before. By the time the primary rolled around, he was the campaign manager. And a great one. I know, because I worked with him every day…

The Man Who Isn’t There

By Gary Pearce October 3, 2007

Republicans aren’t happy with their presidential candidates. Thompson’s too lazy, McCain’s too old and flaky, Romney’s too Mormon and Giuliani’s too liberal and loony. But the perfect candidate (in theory) actually exists. Unfortunately, he ran into a little trouble on the way to the race. He’s George Allen, the former Senator from Virginia. Allen was…

Dissing the Voters

By Gary Pearce October 3, 2007

Republican presidential candidates are dissing any voters who are black, brown or – to the uptight candidates – a bit offbeat. Democratic candidates are dissing any voters from Florida. The Republicans – at least the Big Four – won’t go to any debate aimed at any special audience. Unless that audience is watching Fox News.…

You Can’t Keep a Secret

By Gary Pearce October 2, 2007

The highly respected consulting firm McKinsey & Co. – and the much-maligned North Carolina Department of Transportation – are both living in a dream world. They are under the delusion they can spend $3.6 million of the people’s money on an assessment of the department, then keep it secret. Not only keep the report secret,…

John Edwards Finds a Principle

By Carter Wrenn October 2, 2007

John Edwards said last February he would not take public financing for his campaign. Now, lagging Obama and Hillary in fundraising (he’s raised $23 million to their $50 plus million each) he’s reversed himself. He needs the money. So he’s taking it. Nothing really wrong with that except how Edwards gilded the lily, bragging on…

Rough Waters for Hillary

By Gary Pearce October 2, 2007

The Main Media just finished anointing Hillary as the front-runner. Now they’re attacking her for running as the front-runner. I predicted it in a blog last week, where I compared reporters to birds flitting from wire to wire. So now Hillary is excoriated for debate temporizing, cautious positioning and even her way of laughing. The…

Edwards Scores?

By Carter Wrenn October 1, 2007

Two strange things happened during the Democratic debate at Dartmouth College the other night. First, everyone of the major Democratic candidates (who have been harking about getting out of Iraq) said they couldn’t guarantee they’d bring the troops home by 2013 – at the end of their first term. So, the Democrats may leave troops…

“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…

Rolling Down the Elbe

By Gary Pearce April 19, 2026

Gwyn and I just returned from a 12-day journey through 1,000 years of history in Germany…