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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WalMart Vs. Democrats

By Gary Pearce August 18, 2006

Wal-Mart is becoming for Democrats what al-Qaeda is for Republicans: the source of all evil. The Democratic presidential candidates – even including moderate Senator Evan Bayh – are attacking the big retailer. Its sins include low pay, scarce benefits and big success. All this while Wal-Mart – with Al Gore’s help – is trying to…

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Ethics in State Government?

By Carter Wrenn August 18, 2006

After State Senator Howard Lee was defeated for reelection in 2003 the governor appointed him to the Board of Education. Serving on the Board is an unpaid position and the Board only meets two days a month. But The News and Observer (8/14/06) reports Senator Lee also spends “a couple of days a week” on…

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Edwards and Lieberman

By Gary Pearce August 16, 2006

John Edwards and Joe Lieberman have little in common. But they do both have one big thing this year: running as outsiders. Most politicians fantasize about “outsider” campaigns. Usually when they get tired of playing insider games with other politicians, interest groups and contributors. But the dream has come true for Joe and John. And…

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Reform-mania

By Gary Pearce August 16, 2006

Nothing is quite so repellent – or dangerous – as a politician in the throes of reform-mania. Witness the North Carolina legislature. To start with, no legislator really wanted to pass lobbying or campaign finance reform. They liked the old system. After all, they had designed it to serve themselves. So they did what they…

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The Blue Ribbon Panel

By Carter Wrenn August 16, 2006

Gary and John Hood of the Locke Foundation are having a little debate about the Blue Ribbon Commission. I recently read the Commission’s report. It says Wake County’s population is going to double in twenty-five years and, as a result, we’re going to have to spend a whole lot of money on schools, streets, sewers…

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Terror Politics: The Democrats

By Gary Pearce August 15, 2006

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee knows how to fight back. Its new web ad blasts the Bush record on protecting America: “Not enough troops… “Four times as many terror attacks in 2005… “Iran developing nuclear weapons… “North Korea quadrupling its nuclear arsenal… “Millions more illegal immigrants… “Feel safer? Vote for change.” Click here to see…

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Terror Politics: The Republicans

By Gary Pearce August 15, 2006

I’m not the only one suspicious of the timing of last week’s airport-terror scare. As Keith Olderman pointed out on MSMBC’s Countdown Monday night, the Bush administration for years has conveniently announced terror threats at politically-advantageous times. Like right after the Connecticut Senate primary. Has the act worn thin? We’ll see in November. Click to…

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Picasso or P.T. Barnum?

By Carter Wrenn August 15, 2006

Is the dingus Spanish impresario Jaume Plensa wants to build in the middle of Fayetteville Street the most brilliant work of modern art in the twenty-first century – or is it a good old-fashioned flim-flam? Is Mr. Plensa Picasso – or P.T. Barnum? The leaders of Raleigh’s art circles say Plensa has woven aircraft cables,…

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The N&O’s big boo-boo

By Gary Pearce August 14, 2006

Since I got my first job as a copyboy at The News & Observer 41 years ago this summer, my life has been inextricably intertwined with that paper. But I’ve never seen the N&O do more damage to itself than with the front-page mistake on the Duke-lacrosse investigation. Public Editor Ted Vaden described it this…

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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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