Besides The U.S. President's Limousine, There Is A Very Special Van/Truck That Follows It

There's apparently a new vehicle that's been added to the @POTUS motorcade. "It has a menacing black bubble on top," reports print pooler @toddgillman. "Its purpose is unknown to your pooler. ... It was behind the press vans." pic.twitter.com/oojpmYhdEJ

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) June 20, 2018

Warzone/The Drive: We Have More Info On The Presidential Motorcade's New Satcom-Packing Super Truck

The massive six door custom truck only holds three people and features a cutting-edge command station in an electronically shielded cabin.

Yesterday we did a deep dive on a new jet-black, six-door, dome-packing truck that has appeared at the rear guard of the president's sprawling motorcade. We concluded that this vehicle was a new 'Roadrunner'—the Secret Service's code name for the White House Communications Agency's communications, networking, and command vehicle that follows the presidential limousine everywhere. Basically a rolling highly secure satellite communications gateway and wifi router, this vehicle is critical to the motorcade's functions and to the Command In Chief's ability to stay in touch at all times. Now we have much more to report about this mysterious vehicle and where it came from.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I have always wondered how the U.S. President communicates securely in his limousine .... now we know how.

President Trump Is Not The 'First Quirky' President In The White House

CNN: Trump isn't the first quirky resident of the White House

A new book about the Trump White House reportedly reveals the private eccentricities of a president with an outsize public persona; according to excerpts of journalist Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury" published in New York magazine, President Donald Trump has domestic quirks that extend from housekeeping oddities to his well-known fondness for McDonald's cheeseburgers.

The book has not been released yet, and there is little way of confirming how much of it is true. But when writing my book "The Residence," about the approximately 100 men and women who work as chefs, maids, ushers and florists on the White House residence staff, I heard many strange stories. Some of them were disturbing, but they also made iconic presidents and first ladies more human.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Nothing on the Obamas?

Photo Of Lady Gaga With Five Former U.S. Presidents In One Photo

Nothing more beautiful than everyone putting their differences aside to help humanity in the face of catastrophe. #OneAmericaAppeal pic.twitter.com/2TPdPonvWv

— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) October 22, 2017

The Hill: Photo of Lady Gaga and five former presidents goes viral

A photo of pop music star Lady Gaga and all five living former presidents went viral on social media this weekend as the group united to raise money for disaster relief.

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama gathered for a benefit concert at the One America Appeal fundraiser.

The five leaders joined together to raise money for victims of the recent hurricanes that have devastated the U.S.

The joint effort has raised $31 million so far for disaster relief, the campaign announced hours before the concert.

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WNU Editor: Lady Gaga for President. :)

What Do Ex-U.S. Presidents Do?

Daily Mail: Where's Trump when you need a fourball? Obama, George W Bush and Clinton meet fans as the Presidents Cup golf tournament gets underway in New Jersey

* Former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended the Presidents Cup in New Jersey
* Trio appeared to be having a great time as they flashed smiles, posed for photos and shook several hands
* Their attendance marked first time three US presidents attended event at same time since it began in 1994

Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were all smiles as they attended the Presidents Cup in New Jersey.

The trio posed for photos with players and wives on each team during the opening ceremony on Thursday.

Obama was sporting a pair of dark shades as he flashed his signature smile and shook hands with some of the players.

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WNU Editor:  I wonder .... who of the 3 is the better golfer? My money is on Clinton.

Washington to Trump (Presidential Morph 2016)

Comparing Obama To Reagan

Reuters

Who Had It Easier, Reagan Or Obama? -- Thomas Friedman, New York Times

OVER the past few weeks I’ve been reading Ken Adelman’s fascinating history “Reagan at Reykjavik: Forty-Eight Hours That Ended the Cold War.” Adelman, who led Reagan’s arms control agency, was an adviser at Reagan’s 1986 Iceland summit meeting with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Using some newly declassified documents, Adelman fills out the extraordinary dialogue between the two leaders that set in motion a dramatic cut in nuclear arms.

You learn a lot about Reagan’s leadership in the book. For me, the most impressive thing was not Reagan’s attachment to his “Star Wars” strategic defense initiative, which is overrated in ending the Cold War. What is most impressive about Reagan is that he grasped that Gorbachev was a radically different kind of Soviet leader — one with whom he could make history — long before his intelligence community did. That made a big difference.

These days there is a lot of “if-only-Obama-could-lead-like-Reagan” talk by conservatives. I’ll leave it to historians to figure out years from now who was the better president. But what I’d argue is this: In several critical areas, Reagan had a much easier world to lead in than Obama does now.

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Update: Tom Friedman says Reagan had it easy compared to Obama -- Thomas Lifson, American Thinker

My Comment: Let us see .... when President Reagan came to power there was double digit unemployment, double digit interest rates, an inflation rate in double digits, the height of the Cold War, the real threat of massive nuclear war, the collapse of U.S. influence in the world, million plus peace marches in Europe, Afghanistan, Lebanon civil war, etc. .... you get the picture. But according to Thomas Friedman .... Reagan had a much easier world to lead in than Obama does now.

Hmmmm .... I have my doubts.

But what specifically hit me about this post is Thomas Friedman's assertion that Islamic radicals are a far more difficult foe than what the Soviets were?!?!?!!? Being one who grew up on the Soviet side .... I can state without any hesitation that Mr. Friedman has no idea what he is talking about. But this is the whole point of Mr. Friedman's post .... tear down a great man to build up someone who is not .... and hope that no one pays any attention.

A Look At Past US Presidents Holding Guns (Photo Gallery)

In this photo released by the White House, President Barack Obama shoots clay targets on the range at Camp David, Md., Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. The White House released a photo of Obama firing a gun, two days before he heads to Minnesota to discuss gun control. In a recent interview with The New Republic magazine, Obama said yes when asked if he has ever fired a gun. He said "we do skeet shooting all the time," except for his daughters, at Camp David. Photo: The White House, Pete Souza

WNU Editor: The photo gallery starts here.

U.S. Presidential Inauguration Live

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The Aging Of A U.S. President

President Barack Obama listens during one in a series of meetings discussing the mission against Osama bin Laden, in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

How Four Years In The White House Have Aged Obama -- Daily Mail

Heavy and grey is the head that wears the crown - a lesson that President Obama and many of his predecessors have learned the hard way.

When Mr Obama takes the oath of office next Monday marking the beginning of his second term, it will not be the same smooth-cheeked, black-haired man who first joined the exclusive club of leaders of the free world in 2008.

Comparing pictures of the 51-year-old commander-in-chief from four years to those taken more recently reveals a startling yet obvious truth: standing at the helm of the U.S. government takes a heavy physical toll.

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My Comment: It makes you wonder why anyone would want the job.

U.S. Presidents Who Were Also Veterans Of Military Service

George Washington is certainly the most well-known of Presidents of the United States who also served in the military. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 24 of the nation's 44 Commanders in Chief are veterans.

How Many U.S. Presidents Have Also Been Veterans Of Military Service? -- al.com

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Ever wonder whether Abe Lincoln was in the Army? Or -- as one Huntsville Times reader asked on this Presidents' Day -- how many of the men who have served as Commander in Chief are also veterans of military service?

The answers are in a presidential feature among the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' web pages. It turns out that 24 of the 44 men who have been President of the United States have also served in some branch of the military.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: the 24 Presidents who have served are listed here.

Opinions By U.S. Presidents On God On President's Day

My Comment: In support of Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins.

Hat Tip: Theo Spark