BUSH PLANS PROVOCATIVE TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA NEXT MONTH

It looks like Bush has figured out a way to turn his poll numbers around a little; he's going for the sympathy and rally-round-the-flag vote. The White House is planning out a trip to Latin America for Bush and the Mrs. Today they announced the Bushes would be visiting Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico between March 8 and 14. It is difficult to describe how supremely unpopular-- hated-- Bush is in Latin America, especially in Brazil.

Last month, after returning from Argentina, I did a little story about how Nixon inspired rock throwing riots when he visited Latin America while he was vice president. Bush is far more hated than Nixon ever was, to the point of having unified most of Latin America... against the U.S. I'm betting they're having him go down there to provoke riots so that Americans see horrible TV shots and feel a patriotic tugging to support him. What a thing to put the poor Mrs. through!

I'm surprised he left Paraguay off his agenda since it is docile and under control-- and because, by most unbiased reports, he recently bought a huge estate there.