Bush taps Allan Hubbard for economic post

[liberalpragmatist]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6808782/

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday named Allan Hubbard, an Indiana businessman and major Bush fund-raiser, to serve as one of his top economic advisers, the White House announced.

Hubbard, a Bush friend since they were classmates at Harvard Business School, will serve as assistant to the president for economic policy and as director of the White House National Economic Council, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

McClellan said Bush “has a great amount of trust in” Hubbard to replace Stephen Friedman, who resigned from the job late last year.

Hubbard and his wife were top fund-raisers for Bush’s presidential campaigns, raising at least $100,000 for the 2000 election alone, according to Texans for Public Justice, which tracks political donations.

***

Interesting. I've actually met Al Hubbard a few times and found him to be extremely nice, very personable, quite reasonable to talk to and he's quite intelligent and unlike Bush worked his way out of poverty.

Still, I don't really trust his political judgement and his close alliance with Bush frightens me. I really don't trust his independence from Bush, especially if he's a longtime friend and partner of Bush's. I mean, Bush neutered Gregory Mankiw - a man who has a reputation as a pretty brilliant economist. What makes me think that Hubbard will have the mind to stop Bush's economic policies? Frankly, nothing.

[Stand and Fight]

1. Funny...

The movie, "The Siege" is playing on the USA network right now. The lead character, Anthony Hubbard, played by Denzel Washington is named Anthony Hubbard. I suggest that people look up this movie if they don't remember what it is about.

I don't know if you believe in omens, but I've had quite a few in my life and they've always proved frighteningly prophetic.