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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Had Enough?

By Gary Pearce July 27, 2006

Three reasons to say yes: President Bush on Tuesday, July 25: “Obviously, the violence in Baghdad is still terrible, and therefore there needs to be more troops.” The stem cell veto. Nothing here but a know-nothing sop to the Christian Right, about all the base Bush has left. Parental notification bill. How many underage girls…

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You Can Always Go Downtown

By Gary Pearce July 26, 2006

One of our readers emailed today that Mayor Meeker apparently believes he is Mayor of Downtown Raleigh only. I can feel his pain. I sometimes feel that the only news out of the City Council revolves around downtown. (This week, the two architects on the City Council expressed their dislike for the “vocabulary” of the…

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Dole-drums

By Gary Pearce July 24, 2006

National Republicans are learning what North Carolina Democrats have long known about Liddy Dole: empty suit. Senator Dole was the target of front-page griping from Republicans in The New York Times Sunday. They say her performance as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been lackluster at best, disastrous at worst. Sounds just like…

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Easley for President?

By Gary Pearce July 24, 2006

How long will it take for the rumors to start? Last week, Governor Easley was in Washington for two appearances: A speech to the Center for American Progress, a group trying to redefine and reposition the national Democratic Party; A press conference with Senator Hillary Clinton and the Governor of Iowa (get it – Iowa?)…

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Sculpture

By Carter Wrenn July 24, 2006

Last spring, when Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa sold Raleigh on a $2.5 million outdoor art display with a cloud of floating lights and a wall of mist he opined about the beauty of falling water – how it was special, like rain and waterfalls – and better than the water in old fashioned fountains which…

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The Pot Calls the Kettle Black

By Carter Wrenn July 24, 2006

John Edwards is always exhorting Democrats to have more courage. To stand up for their convictions. Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich recently came to Raleigh and challenged Edwards to debate his convictions. “My challenge to your former senator,” Gingrich said, “Who is running around the country prattling about ending poverty is simple: Take on…

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More on “A Blue Ribbon Punt”

By Gary Pearce July 20, 2006

Two members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Wake County have weighed in on my comments. First, a businessman I know well who served on the commission says: “The N&O take on the BRC was misleading. I know that’s a surprise to both of you.” He added this from his perspective as…

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Democrats and Budgets

By Carter Wrenn July 20, 2006

Here’s how the Democrats in the legislature handle the state budget. For five of the last six years they’ve given us deficits from $200 million to $1.5 billion. Their solution: to raise taxes. Then, finally, they raised taxes so much we had a year with a surplus. What did they do? They cut taxes a…

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Blowing up the Holland Tunnel

By Carter Wrenn July 20, 2006

Authorities have arrested three men – and are seeking five others – overseas in a plot to blow up the train tunnels beneath the Hudson River that lead to Manhattan. The New York Daily News also reported the terrorists had intended to blow a hole in the wall of the Holland Tunnel to flood it.…

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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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