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 Chancellor’s New Home

By Carter Wrenn June 1, 2006

N.C. State University is going to spend $3.5 million to build a 12,300 square foot ‘house’ for its chancellor (News and Observer, 5/21/06). Similar ‘McMansions’ have been built at UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Charlotte and Appalachian State University. There’s a lot to be proud of about NCSU but it’s a shame they’re trying to match other colleges by…

TTA – Raleigh’s New Developers

By Carter Wrenn June 1, 2006

The TTA can’t get the first dollar out of Washington to build its lite-rail boondoggle. But Mayor Meeker and the Raleigh City Council have voted to approve a TTA station on five acres at the State Fairgrounds. There’s no lite-rail. There’s no funding coming from Washington for lite-rail. But taxpayers are buying land for the…

The TTA Strikes Again

By Carter Wrenn May 31, 2006

Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) officials have finally admitted they cannot meet the federal standards to get money from Washington to build their lite-rail project. But are they going to pitch their tent and save the taxpayers the millions they are pouring into the TTA each year? Well, no. According to the News and Observer (News…

Jim Black Attacks Art Pope

By Carter Wrenn May 30, 2006

Art Pope must be tickled to death. Last month he lead a campaign to defeat five Republican legislators – saying they were really pawns of Democratic House Speaker Jim Black – because three years ago they voted for a coalition that elected Republican Richard Morgan and Democrat Black Co-Speakers of the House. Of course, the…

Rare Agreement in Congress

By Gary Pearce May 29, 2006

Normally all we hear about is the partisanship in Congress. That Democrats and Republicans are totally embittered toward each other. That they are unable to work together on any issue. But that changed this week. Both sides of the aisle rose as one. They stood together, liberals and conservatives. They took a brave bipartisan stand…

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…

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…

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.…

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.…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…

Rise and Fall

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2026

A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…

Rolling Down the Elbe

By Gary Pearce April 19, 2026

Gwyn and I just returned from a 12-day journey through 1,000 years of history in Germany…