As I write, President Bush is making his "We Care" tour through Latin America, trying to save the bitter beer face of free trade capitalism in the region. It is no surprise that he's failing miserably so far. Thousands of students, activists, workers and others have flooded the streets of Brazil and others are staging similar protest in countries throughout South America during his visit. No, not the shallow "passive resistance" protest of the ilk we're used to here in America coordinated a head of time with the police and city authorities, but real acts of defiance and dissent where people have the audacity to actually put their necks on the line for what they believe in. 

When ever you have President Bush evoking the name of Simon Bolivar in his speeches, you know something is gone horribly wrong. Bush, his military and corporate puppeteers may try to down play the influence of socialism in the region, but the urgency in the President's rhetoric says differently. By using the script of an egalitarian populist, President Bush is attempting to deflate the rise of socialist leaders in Latin America including Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela. The paternalism behind the whole idea of his visit is nauseating. Does he really believe these people can be hoodwinked and bamboozled into believing his vision for Latin America? Good luck Mr. President, you are going to need it.