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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Indictments Galore

By Carter Wrenn May 29, 2006

The indictment of Kevin Geddings in the lottery scandal has opened a unique window on Democratic politics in North Carolina. There are probably only two dozen Democratic consultants and strategists in North Carolina. They live in a small world. They are friends, acquaintances and rivals. A year ago, many of them were swept up in…

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Today’s Bush Joke

By Gary Pearce May 25, 2006

This one is circulating on the Internet: Donald Rumsfeld briefed the President this morning. He told Bush that three Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq. To everyone’s amazement, all of the color ran from Bush’s face. Then he collapsed onto his desk, head in hands, visibly shaken, almost whimpering. Finally, he composed himself and asked…

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Outfoxing the Tax-and-Spend Dog

By Gary Pearce May 24, 2006

Last week on this blog, Carter did that voodoo he does so well: attack tax-and-spend Democrats. His target was Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker Here was the money punch: “From 1992 to 2001, under Republican mayors, Raleigh never raised property taxes. Now, under Mayor Meeker we are staring at the second tax increase in three years.…

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Outfoxing the Tax-and-Spend Dog

By Gary Pearce May 24, 2006

Last week on this blog, Carter did that voodoo he does so well: attack tax-and-spend Democrats. His target was Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker Here was the money punch: “From 1992 to 2001, under Republican mayors, Raleigh never raised property taxes. Now, under Mayor Meeker we are staring at the second tax increase in three years.…

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Bush makes Cheney Look Good

By Gary Pearce May 23, 2006

George Bush’s moral standards are as low as his poll ratings. Witness his gay-baiting politics. Do I sound like a typical carping little liberal? Well, how about Laura Bush, Dick Cheney and Cheney’s daughter Mary? Over the past few weeks: Laura Bush called on Republicans not to use the Family Marriage Amendment as an issue;…

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Eye Exams and Video Poker

By Carter Wrenn May 23, 2006

You have to give Jim Black credit he doesn’t scare easy or at all. Earlier this year, Speaker Black, his optometrist allies and his video poker supporters testified at State Board of Elections hearings investigating allegations of corruption growing out of the ‘pay to play’ scandals. There were revelations of blank checks (without the recipients…

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The School Superintendent Speaks Out

By Carter Wrenn May 22, 2006

Wake County School Superintendent Bill McNeal told the News and Observer, (5/16/06) he could never recommend a measly $625 million School Bond. McNeal said he couldn’t put kids in schools with adequate heating, air-conditioning and a roof that doesn’t leak for $625 million. Huh? The superintendent is saying if he doesn’t get a billion dollar…

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Qaddafi Revisited

By Carter Wrenn May 22, 2006

Under Muammar Qaddafi, Libya bombed a West German discotheque and blew up a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland and killed 270 people. In March, the United States included Libya on the list of nations that are state sponsors of terrorism. Now, suddenly, all that has changed. The Bush Administration has taken Libya off the…

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Quote of the Day

By Gary Pearce May 19, 2006

This is from Charles Sanders, chairman of the North Carolina Lottery Commission – and one of the most honest and capable people in North Carolina. He was talking about indicted former commissioner Kevin Geddings, but could have been talking about a lot of people in politics today: “I don’t understand how people like that get…

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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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Deborah Ross’ Rx

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2025

Curmudgeonly Cajun James Carville says Democrats just need to “roll over and play dead” and wait…

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