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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The Real Gas Tax Scandal

By Gary Pearce January 10, 2006

Republicans want to make an issue out of the recent state gas tax increase. They’re shocked – shocked, mind you – at a 2.8 cent tax hike. But they’re unbothered that the oil companies raised the price 15 cents. They’re missing the real problem here. I agree with an opinion piece that ran in the…

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The Photo-Op Presidency

By Carter Wrenn January 10, 2006

Here’s all you need to know about George Bush’s depth. Last week he invited to the White House an all-star crew of old Washington foreign-policy and defense gurus – all the way back to Robert McNamara and Mel Laird, for Pete’s sake. Ostensible purpose: a useful exchange of views on Iraq. The discussion with Bush…

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Shortsighted Republicans Shortchange North Carolina Drivers

By Gary Pearce January 9, 2006

Bill Graham, the NC GOP’s new poster boy (and, apparently, John Edwards wannabe) has jumped on the 2.8 cent increase in the state gas tax. He wants to ride it to statewide office. Democrats in the legislature are so nervous they created a special committee to look into “the state’s largest gas tax increase in…

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A Scary Thought for Politicians

By Gary Pearce January 6, 2006

Here is a paragraph – from The New York Times’ story about superlobbyist/supercrook Jack Abramoff – that should chill the spines of politicians throughout our great land. It comes from “a former Republican leadership aide who insisted on anonymity:” “There’s a lot of talk coming out of various quarters that the Justice Department is going…

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The ‘Task Force’ Meets

By Carter Wrenn January 6, 2006

What is terrifying about government appointed ‘Task Forces’ – like the one just appointed by the Wake County Commissioners – is they’re like legislators. Almost. They can only propose to spend money. They can’t actually spend it. This new ‘Task Force’ is supposed to come up with solutions to all – or almost all –…

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Richard Moore

By Carter Wrenn January 5, 2006

I actually read part of Richard Moore’s little speech to the NCCBI in the Winston-Salem Journal. It turns out he’s not quite the towering populist I thought when I read Gary’s blog. There are a lot of good arguments that can be made for increasing the minimum wage. Here’s what Mr. Moore told the NCCBI…

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Richard Moore’s (Unofficial) Campaign Kickoff

By Gary Pearce January 5, 2006

I read on the Blue NC blog that “State Treasurer (and likely gubernatorial candidate) Richard Moore is calling for a $1 increase in North Carolina’s minimum wage.” Click here to read the article: The website post says Moore: “made the call at a meeting of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, a pro-business…

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Planning Commission Fallout

By Gary Pearce January 4, 2006

I missed it if it ran in the paper, but I understand that the City Council last night appointed Paul Anderson and Charles Walker to the Planning Commission – by eight votes and five votes respectively. That suggests the anti-growth faction of the Council remains a minority – at least through last night. But it’s…

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Democrats Wrestle Over Raleigh Growth

By Gary Pearce December 28, 2005

Raleigh city politics are getting more party-centered. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But Raleigh Democrats may be heading in a direction that is plenty wrong. An important test will come next Tuesday. The City Council is scheduled to appoint two new members of the Planning Commission then. The appointments have become the battleground…

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Another Story from Politics

By Carter Wrenn December 24, 2024

Watergate sunk Nixon. Jimmy Carter was elected. Two years later Jesse Helms ran for reelection. In…

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Unhappy Holidays?

By Gary Pearce December 24, 2024

We Americans are angry this Christmas. 77 million voters were so angry they elected Trump. 75…

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A Surprise

By Carter Wrenn December 23, 2024

‘You tell a lot of good stories about Reagan, like his saying a prayer for the…

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