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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Sneaky

By Carter Wrenn May 16, 2006

Governor Easley’s sneaky streak breaks out every now and then. To hear the Governor tell it he’s going to do two things with the State’s $2 billion surplus: increase some needed spending and cut taxes. What’s sneaky – and what he’s not talking about much – is that his tax cut is only a fraction…

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Bombs Away

By Gary Pearce May 15, 2006

Congressman Brad Miller’s opponent, Vernon Robinson, last week sent out one of the wildest, most over-the-top, most clever, most irresponsible, most expensive and – I hope – least effective mailings I’ve ever seen. And I thought nobody could top the stuff Carter and the Congressional Club used to send out about Jim Hunt. Now, Brad…

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What Goes ARound Comes Around

By Gary Pearce May 12, 2006

In 2000, George and Jeb Bush relied on Katherine Harris, Florida’s Secretary of State, to recapture the White House for the Bush family. That made Katherine a hero with Republicans and anathema to Democrats. She rode the notoriety right into the U.S. Senate race in Florida this year. But her behavior has been so wacky…

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The Most Unpopular Man in North Carolina

By Carter Wrenn May 12, 2006

Few would argue (with the exception of the members of the House Democratic Caucus) with the proposition that Jim Black, after a year of ‘pay to play’ scandals, is now the most unpopular man in North Carolina. A series of hearings, investigations, and exposes has left the heretofore sure-footed House Leader battered and bruised. But…

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The Battle of the Sexes

By Carter Wrenn May 12, 2006

Scientists at the University of Chicago and the University of California have reached a startling conclusion. A woman can tell a man’s testosterone level, whether he’s a one night stand or a potential husband, and how much he likes infants by simply looking at his photograph. After the scientist showed a battery of young women…

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Where’s Liddy?

By Gary Pearce May 11, 2006
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Pay to Play

By Carter Wrenn May 11, 2006

Democrats in the State House Committee say they want to ban political contributions from lobbyists to legislators. That’s fine. But don’t be deceived. They are not trying to end ‘pay to play.’ In fact, what they are doing will hardly slow Marc Basnight or Jim Black down at all. The House Democrats are being clever.…

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Soul-Searching Democrats

By Gary Pearce May 10, 2006

The Democratic Party is undergoing one of its periodic paroxysms of soul-searching. It’s not a pretty sight. The soul-searching has long been bubbling in the blogs. It bubbled onto the front page of The New York Times this week. But it’s nothing new. The same battle has been going on between Liberal Democrats and Not-So-Liberal…

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Response – Whose Money Talks Loudest?

By Carter Wrenn May 10, 2006

There’s a difference in Art Pope spending ‘his millions’ and how the Black/Basnight Political Machines continue to hold an iron-grip on the North Carolina Legislature. Pope is spending his own money. What he is doing does not cost taxpayers a cent. He’s not trying to get a state contract or a bill passed to help…

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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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