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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More Year-Round Schools Coming

By Gary Pearce October 26, 2006

Parents who oppose mandatory year-round schools also oppose the Wake County school bonds. But they may be the biggest losers if the bonds lose. Especially if you look deeper into the WRAL/News & Observer poll on the bonds. The bonds are losing 54-35, the poll says. But the internal numbers are even more interesting: Most…

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UNC Health Care Pays Big Bonuses

By Carter Wrenn October 26, 2006

Last month, the News and Observer reported the UNC Health Care system filed a lean on a man’s home when he was unable to pay his bill, after being struck by a crippling disease. Now, the newspaper reports the UNC system has paid executives $2.5 million in bonuses. Its CEO received a bonus of $110,000…

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The D’Amato Strategy

By Carter Wrenn October 26, 2006

In New York, they used to say of Senator Alfonse D’Amato, one of the legendary pork-barrellers, ‘He’s a crook, but he’s our crook.’ In other words it wasn’t the scandals it was the pork that mattered. After House Speaker Jim Black’s debate with opponent, Hal Jordan, Black told the press, “This is not about Kevin…

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Urban Correctness: Meeker Style

By Carter Wrenn October 26, 2006

When it comes to downtown Raleigh Mayor Meeker has his own version of political correctness – it could be called “urban correctness.” The Mayor and two of his allies on the City Council, Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder, have very definite – and rigid – views about what they do and don’t want downtown and…

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No More ‘Stay the Course’?

By Carter Wrenn October 26, 2006

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says the words “stay the course” may never pass his lips again. But does that mean the President’s policy in Iraq has changed – or is Mr. Snow simply abandoning what has become an unpopular phrase, two weeks before the election? It’s not exactly clear. Has the policy has…

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Morgan vs. Pope

By Gary Pearce October 26, 2006

Excerpted from attached Morgan letter: “If left unchallenged, Art Pope with his corporate millions, is a danger to the values North Carolinians hold dear. If successful, Pope will destroy the integrity of the North Carolina House of Representatives. “ “So I want you to be among the first to know that I have formally set…

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Pope versus Morgan

By Gary Pearce October 25, 2006

Excerpted from attached Morgan letter: “If left unchallenged, Art Pope with his corporate millions, is a danger to the values North Carolinians hold dear. If successful, Pope will destroy the integrity of the North Carolina House of Representatives. “ “So I want you to be among the first to know that I have formally set…

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Polls Apart

By Gary Pearce October 25, 2006

The News & Observer says its poll with WRAL shows that voters are “leaning against” the Wake school bond issue. It looks more like a tsunami to me. Only 35 percent of the voters said they’ll vote for the bond issue. The result could be nearly 2-to-1 against. School bond supporters sound like George Bush…

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New Scandal on Easley’s Doorstep?

By Carter Wrenn October 25, 2006

Two years ago, when Governor Easley was campaigning hard for reelection the state paid $21.5 million for 5,600 acres of land in Caldwell County. Three weeks later, the Governor’s campaign received $40,000 from ten people with ties to the land owner. Later, three more donors gave $16,000. Two of the donors were nineteen and twenty…

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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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