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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Heckuva Job, Nicky?

By Gary Pearce March 8, 2007

ABC News reports that the Veterans Administration came up with a plan two years ago to make sure that American troops injured in Iraq and Afghanistan get the medical care they need. It was called “seamless transition.” The purpose: Don’t let injured troops fall through the cracks when the military turns them over to the…

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Richard Moore: The Old Bait and Switch

By Carter Wrenn March 8, 2007

The newspapers have blasted Richard Moore’s shaking down state pension fund managers for campaign contributions. Moore’s response: He’s pulling the ‘old bait and switch.’ Moore, spewing statistics, claims it doesn’t matter how much he’s raised. All that matters, he says, is how the funds have performed. Which according to him is just dandy. Moore calculated…

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How About You?

By Carter Wrenn March 8, 2007

No politician in Congress is going to dare to propose a draft. The Democrats would impeach President Bush if he even brought it up. But looking back the President made a big mistake by not proposing a draft years ago. He wouldn’t have gotten in this mess if he had. He’d have known right then…

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In the Soup

By Carter Wrenn March 8, 2007

There’s a sad sequel to Mayor Meeker’s failed obsession with Lite-Rail. The News and Observer reports the Mayor’s Triangle Transit Authority is having a tough time keeping its fleet of buses afloat. The TTA has maintenance problems. Big maintenance problems. Problems so bad the City has filed a lawsuit to make the bus makers take…

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Governor Easley’s Math

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2007

When Jim Hunt was Governor no one could open a Seven-Eleven without Hunt adding a new page to his new job recruitment statistics. By the time Governor Hunt left office he’d announced so many new jobs – some promised, some real – the unemployed were in a state of shock. He also made “Smart Start”…

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Governor Easley

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2007

When Jim Hunt was Governor no one could open a Seven-Eleven without Hunt adding a new page to his new job recruitment statistics. By the time Governor Hunt left office he’d announced so many new jobs – some promised, some real – the unemployed were in a state of shock. He also made “Smart Start”…

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‘Let’s Forget the Whole Thing’

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2007

At first I thought it might be shock, or embarrassment, or not wanting to kick a fellow when he’s down: Democrats, led by Governor Easley, were silent as stones about Jim Black’s bribery conviction. Then I asked a friend who knows legislators, ‘Why aren’t Democrats howling from the rooftops in outrage at Jim Black rather…

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The Lambs at Enloe

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2007

The massed armadas of political correctness have descended on the head of a hapless social studies teacher at Enloe High. Robert Escamilla, the ACLU says, has strayed and must be pummeled. His crime: Inviting an Egyptian Christian – who was tortured in Egypt for his beliefs – to speak to his class. The greater crime:…

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Scooter Libby and Walter Reed

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2007

Suppose Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & Co. had spent less time plotting revenge against critics of their pre-war intelligence hype – and more time making sure wounded troops received decent medical care: Scooter Libby wouldn’t be a convicted perjurer. Brave men and women wouldn’t have suffered so tragically. And this administration’s reputation for competence and trustworthiness…

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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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The N&O Story

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2025

Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful newspaper: The News & Observer. Everybody…

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How Democrats Win Again

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2025

The shouting, sign-waving and cane-wielding by congressional Democrats at the State of the Union isn’t a…

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