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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Whistling Past the Graveyard?

By Carter Wrenn November 7, 2006

House Majority Leader John Boehner made this pre-election prediction on George Stephanopoulos’ TV program Sunday a week ago: Boehner explained most Congressional races aren’t about federal issues, they’re about local issues. So, he says despite the war, Republicans will win. He admitted Independent voters are a problem, but added they don’t vote in off-year elections.…

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All in One Day

By Carter Wrenn November 7, 2006

Every morning I go out, pick up the newspaper, then sit down and read it. One day last week almost cured me of the habit. When I opened the paper, Iran was enriching more uranium to build bombs, Korea had tested a bomb and the Prime Minister of Iraq, who’s a Shiite Muslim, had attacked…

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Urban Correctness II: Meeker’s Rules

By Carter Wrenn November 7, 2006

City Councilman Thomas Crowder, apparently, takes the City’s new regulations on the height of grass, outdoor cafes and hot dog stands pretty seriously. He sounds like a dedicated advocate of Urban Correctness. The problem is, sometimes, he sounds like a killjoy too. When the City fined Lew Barnes $236 for not cutting his grass to…

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Taking Money Out of Politics?

By Gary Pearce November 6, 2006

Since 2004, reformers have intensified their efforts in North Carolina and nationally to stop the flow of political money. What are the results? According to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, campaign-ad spending this year will top $2 billion, $400 million more than in 2004. You can’t stop money. To comment, send us an email to…

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The Booze Cruise

By Carter Wrenn November 6, 2006

You’ve got to give it to the Democrats they’ve got ‘hutzpa.’ Last summer, Governor Easley’s minions in state government arranged a cruise around Beaufort Harbor (with a steel drum band, shrimp, lobster and plenty of liquor) to see the tall ships, spending $30,000 of taxpayers’ money. But that’s not what took ‘hutzpa.’ This is: Now,…

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The Booze Cruise

By Carter Wrenn November 6, 2006

You’ve got to give it to the Democrats they’ve got ‘hutzpa.’ Last summer, Governor Easley’s minions in state government arranged a cruise around Beaufort Harbor (with a steel drum band, shrimp, lobster and plenty of liquor) to see the tall ships, spending $30,000 of taxpayers’ money. But that’s not what took ‘hutzpa.’ This is: Now,…

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The Election: A Ray of Hope. At Last. Sort Of.

By Carter Wrenn November 6, 2006

Dick Morris reports the Zogby poll shows, since September 22, the percentage of Independents voting Republican has risen from 15% to 26% (DickMorris@vote.com). That’s the good news. But there’s bad news too. Morris reports the percentage of Republicans voting for Republicans dropped from 75% to 68% – so, overall we Republicans are no better off…

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How Powerful is Internet Politics?

By Carter Wrenn November 6, 2006

MoveOn.org, which was created to save President Clinton from impeachment, is the liberal behemoth on the Internet. It just has targeted North Carolina Congressman Charles Taylor for defeat, opening “a storefront office in downtown Asheville” where “more than 400 volunteers have come to work the phones.” (News and Observer; 10-26-06) Let’s put that in perspective.…

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Community College Trustees’ Special Fund

By Carter Wrenn November 3, 2006

With all the major scandals (like Kevin Geddings’ conviction), minor scandals (State ABC Board junkets to Ireland), and possible scandals, here’s a little sprout that’s not so much a scandal as an unusual fact. When a Community College needs to hire a new President it retains a professional ‘search’ firm. Several firms compete for the…

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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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