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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RFK

By Gary Pearce 2018-06-05

He gave better – and better-known – speeches. Less remembered is what he said in a hot, crowded, chaotic Los Angeles ballroom just minutes before he flashed a grin and a peace (or victory) sign and said, “So on to Chicago and let’s win there.” He speaks to us today just as he did to…

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Republicans we love

By Gary Pearce 2018-06-04

Trump has accomplished one thing. He’s made Democrats love Republicans we used to loathe. Remember demonic warmonger George W. Bush? Now he’s lovable, artistic George, a goofy but compassionate conservative. George H.W.? A veritable statesman. John McCain, the hateful Palin-picker from 2008? A true American hero. Mitt Romney, the 47 percenter from 2012? A fine…

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The no-no budget

By Gary Pearce 2018-06-01

No debate. No discussion. No dissent. No amendments. No committee meetings. No hearings. No public input. No openness. No transparency. No accountability. No democracy. And no Democrats! No way to do a budget. Not nearly enough for teachers, educators and state employees. No to public schools. No to school supplies. No to safer schools. No…

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Apple’s core values belong in NC

By Gary Pearce 2018-05-24

The “No Gay? No Way!” campaign has it exactly backwards about Apple coming to North Carolina. The Human Rights Campaign frames the argument this way: “Apple has an opportunity to lead by locating and investing in places that fully protect LGBTQ people. North Carolina is not one of those places.” But if Apple – and…

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The Preacher, the Politician and the Marine

By Gary Pearce 2018-05-21

Democrats were downright giddy when the Preacher beat the Politician in the 9th District Republican primary. Pundits immediately upped the odds for the Marine, Democrat Dan McCready. The Politician’s campaign consultant said the outcome showed November could be “brutal” for Republicans. Hold the confetti. Remember how giddy Democrats were two summers ago when Republicans nominated…

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Red sea in Raleigh

By Gary Pearce 2018-05-17

Not surprisingly, commentary on the teacher rally focused on teacher pay – and teacher politics. Namely, will the red tide that swamped the Legislative Building Wednesday swamp the Republicans in November and sweep in the Democrats? Both parties were ready. The Republicans covered their windows with selective numbers on their teacher pay record. They rolled…

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Reality Show Politics

By Carter Wrenn 2018-05-16

Republicans elected Donald Trump to ‘drain the swamp’ and today they still enjoy watching the ‘Trump Show’ but it’s beginning to look like he’s not going to be able to whip the Washington Establishment. Instead, many of the men around Trump have morphed into Washington Insiders themselves. Tom Price is one example. It’s an old…

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A Tiff (Between Democrats)

By Carter Wrenn 2018-05-15

It was odd. In Wake County, during their primary, a coalition of liberal activists led by Dean Debnam launched a campaign to defeat four incumbent Democratic County Commissioners (who I’d always thought of as pretty liberal themselves). You wouldn’t usually expect to find a liberal Democrat doing favors for a developer but that’s exactly what…

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Dick Jenrette’s rules

By Gary Pearce 2018-05-14

Raleigh native (and Broughton grad) Richard Jenrette was a legend on Wall Street and in the world of historic preservation. He also earned the admiration of a wide range of friends and associates. When he died recently at the age of 89, he left behind on his desk 24 rules to succeed – in finance…

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A World Lit Only by Fire – Part II

By Carter Wrenn 2024-05-02

After Rodrigo Borgia died, soft-spoken but cunning Leo de Medici became pope, after bribing cardinals ended…

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A World Lit Only by Fire – Part I

By Carter Wrenn 2024-05-01

It was a time, Tom Hanks wrote describing the end of the Middle Ages, when dukes…

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Trust Flies Out the Window

By Carter Wrenn 2024-04-29

Planned Parenthood’s spending a ton of money – $10 million – to elect pro-abortion candidates in…

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