Ever since the Twitter account @TheWhiteHouse has joined our ongoing discussion, I've been trying to figure out if it's a real or faux account.

Today, I'm pleased to report that the riddle has officially been solved.

You see, I figured it out this past weekend when I was enjoying the Twitter conversation in my lovely Twhirl Twitter client.

Up popped a message from @TheWhiteHouse, and it was an obvious RSS feed item. I clicked back on the @TheWhiteHouse account and noticed that all of the items were RSS feeds and the profile picture reminded me of the banner which accompanied the many talking point documents I had received over the years from the White House.

Then I noticed that the profile "About" items were particularly neutral (something I wouldn't expect from a faux):
* Name: The White House;
* Location: Washington, DC
* Web: http://www.whitehouse.gov
* Bio: The head of the Executive Branch.

Then I recognized that whoever set-up the account had accurately described "The White House" by putting a "The" in front of "White House."

Based on these "clues," I had a hunch who was behind it.

So after the conservative bloggers briefing on Tuesday, I asked the person if he had anything to do with it. BINGO. I was right on target.

The mastermind was none other than former White House Internet Director David Almacy, who now blogs at CapitalGig.com. It was perhaps David's last great offering to a Web 2.0 White House.

With David's permission, I give to you his email to me on the genesis of the @TheWhiteHouse Twitter account:

When we redesigned the White House website in March 2007, we wanted to streamline it’s operation “behind the scenes,” as well as upgrade the overall look and feel. Since there were some restrictions in place regarding external sites, we had to think creatively as to how to utilize their reach while still adhering to the rules.

My general approach was to publish timely content (text, photos, audio, video) and establish WhiteHouse.gov not only as the source, but as a proactive online tool. Of course, the site houses content for those searching for it but it also pushes information out to external sites via RSS feeds, for example.

Rob Klause, a former White House colleague, introduced me to Twitter over a year ago. After showing me Twittervision, I “got it” and was immediately hooked. I joined shortly thereafter and, admittedly, didn’t really use it much until I returned from attending SXSWi 2008 in Austin, Texas just last month.

Just before leaving my post, I got the idea of establishing the White House on Twitter after I saw other groups use the site to publish their headlines. I really liked the concept of building an online community and engaging “followers” in real time with short posts and links for reference. So, I contacted Jack Dorsey, one of Twitter’s founders, and asked if we could set up an official page that would be populated via the White House News RSS feed. I’m not sure if he set it up or not, but the page popped up a couple weeks later.

Whether it’s Twitter, iTunes or Google’s gov search, all content is coming directly from WH.gov – which is publicly available to anyone who wishes to subscribe and share – and there is real power in that.

David Almacy behind the Twittering POTUS? Natch.

Just over a year ago I made "The Case For A Twittering Presidential Candidate." In hindsight, I should have been making the case for a Twittering POTUS.

And, for the record, David's *official* involvement makes President Bush the FIRST President to Twitter. Even if it is just syndicating a readily available RSS feed.

After a POLC discussion titled, "White House 2.0: How will digital campaign tactics change the way the Presidency uses technology?," I caught up with former White House Internet Director David Almacy (check out David's new blog CapitalGig).

During the discussion, David talked about his "a-ha" moment as the Internet Director at The White House which I thought was a really interesting point. I asked him to repeat it for you which you can watch via my TechRepublican YouTube channel (don't forget to subscribe):

Of particular note, make sure you watch through to the end where I ask David to list off his top three recommendations for the next POTUS. Good stuff.

Thanks for all you did at the WH David. Yes, we did notice.

In August, President Bush reached out to talk radio hosts to help get his message out and we here at TechRepublican, while lightly applauding for using alternative media in the first place, asked why President Bush hadn't similarly reached out to conservative bloggers for he'd surely find similar allies.

Well this past weekend, President Bush did just that meeting with military bloggers to help amplify his speech on the progress in the war in Iraq.

As reported by the Washington Post:

The day after his prime-time speech on Iraq, President Bush sat down for a round-table interview not with traditional White House reporters but with bloggers who focus on military issues, including two participating by video link from Baghdad.

* * * * *

Still, the hour-long meeting in the Roosevelt Room offered Bush another opportunity to break through what he sees as the filter of the traditional news media, while also reaching out to the providers of a new source of information for soldiers, their families and others who follow the conflict in Iraq closely.

"More and more we are engaging in the new-media world, and these are influential people who have a big following," said Kevin F. Sullivan, the White House communications chief.

Bush told the group that, to his knowledge, it was the first time a president had met with bloggers for a chat at the White House, one of the participants wrote. The blogs represented at the meeting are generally pro-Bush and pro-military, and the ensuing reports were highly sympathetic to the president.

Mr. President, the highest honor I can bestow to you is a nice helping of porridge with cream and brown sugar. It's kind of become a tradition.

So what's next on the President's tour stop of the modern world? Hopefully YouTube.