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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

Fired Up!

By Gary Pearce 2023-07-05

Less than 24 hours after I blogged that Democrats in the legislature seemed “beat down,” I got corrected. One of the House Democratic leaders called Saturday morning to tell me that caucus members are fired up, energized and getting organized for 2024, 2026, 2028 – and for taking the majority by the end of the…

Read More

A Salesman’s Pitch

By Carter Wrenn 2023-07-03

After being indicted, Trump flew to New Hampshire, told voters: “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom.” Added: “They’re not after me, they’re after you and I’m just standing in their way. Right?” I’m a victim. I fight for you. It’s you they’re really after.…

Read More

Democrats’ Split Personality

By Gary Pearce 2023-06-30

There are two wildly divergent states of mind – and emotional states – among North Carolina Democrats today. I saw one at last Saturday night’s Unity Dinner in Raleigh. I see and hear the other among Democrats in politics and government in Raleigh. At the dinner, 400-plus eager, energized and enthusiastic Democrats jammed the reception,…

Read More

Testy

By Carter Wrenn 2023-06-30

Oklahoma’s governor endorsed Ron DeSantis. Unhappy, Trump tweeted, ‘I won 77 of 77 counties’ – in Oklahoma – ‘something that never happened before.’ George Bush won 77 of 77 Oklahoma counties in 2004. Mitt Romney won 77 of 77 in 2012. But Trump got testy. And facts didn’t matter.

Read More

Classic Trump

By Carter Wrenn 2023-06-29

Trump said: “Unlike Ron DeSanctimonious, who worked to gut Medicare and Social Security and voted three times to raise the retirement age to 70, I will always fight for our great seniors.” An insult, a nickname, followed by a punch, ending in a boast. Classic Trump. By the way: Trump, himself, supported raising the retirement…

Read More

“Hitler,” Mr. Robinson?

By Gary Pearce 2023-06-28

Mark Robinson, who leads the Republican race for governor of North Carolina, said this about the criminal charges against Donald Trump: “Law and order has been destroyed, and we have a two-tiered justice system that has been weaponized against political enemies, much like it was during Hitler’s reign.” Have you read the indictment, Mr. Robinson?…

Read More

“MAGA Fascists” vs Democracy

By Gary Pearce 2023-06-26

Adrian Fontes doesn’t mince words. He calls election-deniers “MAGA fascists.” Fontes, Arizona’s newly elected secretary of state, was the keynote speaker at the state Democratic Party’s Unity Dinner Saturday night. The big, burly ex-Marine with a booming voice and commanding presence delivered the most powerful and inspiring speech I’ve heard since Barack Obama in 2008.…

Read More

Eyes on Russia

By Gary Pearce 2023-06-24

While we were obsessing over billionaires at the bottom of the ocean, a civil war broke out in Russia. In 1917, civil war in Russia led to the fall of the Tsar and the rise of communism and the Soviet Union. In 1991, armed conflict in Moscow led to the breakup of the Soviet Union,…

Read More

Dining With Democrats

By Gary Pearce 2023-06-23

I’m doing something Saturday I haven’t done in years: go to a Democratic Party dinner. There, I’ll remember a man who is little known to Democrats, but meant a lot to me – and to North Carolina. The occasion is the state party Unity Dinner. I’ve done my time at these things. I’ve half-eaten too…

Read More

American Trauma

By Gary Pearce 2024-03-29

An American history textbook published in 2050 might call the first quarter of the 21st Century…

Read More

A Simple Question

By Carter Wrenn 2024-03-27

Hamas stormed into Israel, killed men, women, and children. Shocked Israelis thought, We’re no longer safe.…

Read More

Plagues

By Carter Wrenn 2024-03-26

Plagues have been around since the time of the Pharaohs: What caused the plague that killed…

Read More