November 28, 2007
Posted: November 28th, 2007 11:05 AM ET

Hubbard, pictured with Karl Rove last August, is stepping down from his post.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Bush's top economic adviser, Al Hubbard, is stepping down - the latest in a growing list of White House senior staff who are exiting before the end of the president's second term.

White House press secretary Dana Perino announced that Hubbard's replacement will be Keith Hennessey, who is Hubbard's deputy.

The position is appointed by the president with no Senate confirmation needed.

Perino said Hubbard submitted his letter of resignation to Bush Wednesday morning.

The White House issued a statement praising Hubbard.

"In leading the policy process on issues such as taxes, entitlements, health care, energy security, the environment, and trade and investment, Al contributed his own ideas and also worked to ensure that all views were brought to the table and given fair analysis and debate," said the president.

"While many of the policies Al worked to develop are in place today, other policy initiatives, including Social Security reform and health care reform, have laid the foundation for policies I believe will be adopted in the future."

Hubbard will depart by the end of the year, according to administration officials.

Hubbard's departure follows other recent White House losses, including Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend; Karl Rove, Bush's top political adviser; Dan Bartlett, communications director; Karen Hughes, the State Department undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs; and Rob Portman, budget director.

The administration is facing daunting economic challenges, including the mortgage crisis and market volatility.

– CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux

Filed under: President Bush


steve, north carolina   November 28th, 2007 9:06 pm ET

I am not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush's wife left him as well.

RTH, Bellingham, WA   November 28th, 2007 8:43 pm ET

Wow, people. Half of you made a sinking ship analogy. Is this your way of pressuring the networks to talk more seriously with the WGA, or do you all meet up before hand to decide what joke is in today?

It's not unusual for people to leave an administration, especially as it moves into the "lame duck" stage from the simply "lame."

Steven, WV   November 28th, 2007 7:46 pm ET

Dana Perino should be the next to go as she is to hot to ruin her career staying with Bush

daniel   November 28th, 2007 5:43 pm ET

Is anyone suprised by anything these days. It's smart to run from Bush and Cheney! Loners!

Benton Nelson, Indianapolis, IN   November 28th, 2007 5:21 pm ET

If all the rats are jumping ship, when will the captin and first mate get smart and jump ship to. It must be the blind leading the blind not jumping ship.

scott,manchester NH   November 28th, 2007 12:54 pm ET

why is it that the ONE guy this country could REALLY benefit from resigning is the one who's been hangin around for 8 years,twiddling his thumbs and doing whatever rove and cheney say,...and watching everyone around him jump ship,cuz thats how bad it must've been to be there.

Chris, Charlottesville, Va   November 28th, 2007 12:36 pm ET

Leaving to spend more time with his children? Come on – the kids are 17 and 19 years old. Somehow I doubt spending time with dad is high on their agendas. Could it be he just doesn't want to be the top Economic Advisor when the remainder of the subprime foreclosures hit the market?

r schier norwalk,ct   November 28th, 2007 12:19 pm ET

Another know-nothing, do-nothing, rich pansy....good riddance....

Jason W. Cape Girardeau, Missouri   November 28th, 2007 12:19 pm ET

Another one bites the dust. Even though this is typical towards the end of a Presidents last term. I am still happy to see members of the Bush Administration leaving. I can't wait until Bush and Cheney are gone. I really hope the American people have learned from the mistakes this administration has made.

Jim St.Louis MO   November 28th, 2007 11:38 am ET

He will always be remembered as the economic adviser that helped an administration bring about repeatedly large deficits, stagnated wages mixxed with high inflation, a worthless US dollar and shipping 1 in 6 US manufacturing jobs overseas.

Scott from Freehold   November 28th, 2007 11:26 am ET

All the rats who helped screw up our country are slowly abandoning the sinking ship. Sadly, the biggest rats remain on board.

Anthony - Dayton, OH   November 28th, 2007 11:26 am ET

It is not at all unusual - in fact, it is typical - to see members of an administration leave near the end of the president's term. This has nothing whatsoever to do with Bush.

Carle, Ann Arbor, MI   November 28th, 2007 11:18 am ET

As is typical of this particular "Misadministration", too little too late.

Now he can go to work more directly for Halliburton and/or Blackwater.

At least when Cabinet members left Slick Willy's administration, there was still money in the bank.

TJO, Miami   November 28th, 2007 11:17 am ET

The Rats continue to abandon the sinking ship.

Raymond, El Paso TX   November 28th, 2007 11:11 am ET

LOL, another "cut and run" Republican!

RE: Picture ~ Back at you Karl but with a different finger.

Dave, Flint Michigan   November 28th, 2007 11:03 am ET

Usually when you see this many people leaving, they are trying to distance them self from an impending scandal. While I have not been the greatest of supporter for this administration, this does have me wondering if there is something else going on, when during your term you have had to replace almost all of your appointees.

JusLaf_n, Illinois   November 28th, 2007 10:57 am ET

Percieved competance..I think not..Ever popular favoritism. Let the light shine and bright it is. Fake your way to the top.

Iz_me   November 28th, 2007 10:50 am ET

It all falls down. I say it all falls down led by your elected clown. Bet you regret that choice, huh!

Frank, Las Vegas, NV   November 28th, 2007 10:47 am ET

WHY ARE THE RATS LEAVING THE SINKING BUSH SHIP??

Laura Tulsa OK   November 28th, 2007 10:44 am ET

For the uninitiated, let me tell you that's it's common for the top advisors to leave an administration in its last year to write books and especially to take speaking engagements while the interest in there. If you look at Bill Clinton's admin. you will see that same pattern.

Digg Zazz, Boston   November 28th, 2007 10:43 am ET

See the rats leave the sinking ship.

Chris, Pensacola FL   November 28th, 2007 10:38 am ET

Something is going on. I just don't know what yet.

I wish there was a media outlet that could inform us what was going on.

Bradley Schaubs, Greeley, CO   November 28th, 2007 10:34 am ET

Good-bye, o person who drove the economy into the ground!

theinvestor   November 28th, 2007 10:31 am ET

7 years of economic expansion, another historical first the US under Bush. No doubt Hubbard has a fine future ahead in the private sector too..

Richard, St. Paul, MN   November 28th, 2007 10:25 am ET

Another rat leaving the corrupt Republican sinking ship. The White House is going to need to be fumigated after Bush leaves, just to get the evil stink out.

Ben Yokel   November 28th, 2007 10:19 am ET

You've got to be surprised that most of the Bush team has lasted as long as they have. Clearly Bush/Cheney are liars and war criminals and responsible for the destruction of Iraq and the mass murder of nearly 1,000,000 innocent Iraqis civilians. Anyone who supports them is an accessory to these horrible crimes.

Mark, Shreveport, La   November 28th, 2007 10:19 am ET

Poor guy. He comes from the private sector where people work to get things done only to run into an obstinate, pandering congress who only works to get re-elected.

Monique, miami, FL   November 28th, 2007 10:00 am ET

Another rat leaves a sinking Bush/Republican ship.

Independent in IA   November 28th, 2007 9:59 am ET

The Rats deserting the sinking ship?

brooklyn   November 28th, 2007 9:57 am ET

Sounds like to me all these recent resigns are an admission to their failure. At least they are leaving before more damage occurs.

Claudette, TX   November 28th, 2007 9:49 am ET

It is always a scary sight when the rats start jumping ship.

EB Rideout, Georgia   November 28th, 2007 9:49 am ET

Another one jumps ship before it goes down with all hands.

The Ship of Fools is sinking fast.

Alan, San Angelo Texas   November 28th, 2007 9:45 am ET

Al Hubbard did nothing to reduce the number of uninsured Americans in his three years in office. The Bush myth of "first dollar" health care coverage disappeared for most folks in the late 1980's.

Al was on two boards before joining Bush's crackerjack White House staff. Will WellPoint and Medical Savings Insurance take him back? Bush's Uncle Bucky and the wife of Indiana Senator Evan Bayh might welcome Al back to the WellPoint board with a slap on the back and handshake. There's always a free seat for politically connected millionaires.

Al came from private health care. He continued to push for the same, even while "serving the public". Will he crawl back to the same swamp?

Firozali A Mulla MBA PhD P.O.Box 6044 Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania East Africa   November 28th, 2007 9:42 am ET

Sir. No offence before the new season but how many does this total to from last three year? I am weak in political maths sir!!!!!!

Wayne, Greenville TX   November 28th, 2007 9:42 am ET

Yet another rat deserting the sinking ship that is the Bush Misadministration......

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