Protesters Greet Bush In Brazil

Latin America Trip Is Intended To Promote Democracy And Ethanol Use

(CBS/AP)  President Bush has arrived in Brazil, but not everyone is happy to see him.

The president's trip was intended to promote democracy, increased trade and cooperation on alternative fuels. Mr. Bush and his advisers also hope his visit will offset the growing influence of leftist leaders, such as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

As the president flew Thursday on Air Force One, Mr. Bush's national security adviser brushed aside Chavez's provocations.

"The president is going to do what he's been doing for a long time: talk about a positive agenda," said Stephen Hadley.

Police clashed with students, environmentalists and left-leaning Brazilians, some waving communist flags, ahead of Mr. Bush's visit. Riot police fired tear gas after more than 6,000 people held a largely peaceful march through the financial district. And in the southern city of Porto Alegre, more than 500 people yelled "Get Out, Imperialist!" as they burned an effigy of Mr. Bush outside a Citigroup Inc. bank branch.

Meanwhile, the police commander of Colombia, which the president will visit on Sunday, said authorities had thwarted leftist rebel plans to disrupt Mr. Bush's visit to Bogota. "We have taken measures to neutralize them," said Gen. Jorge Daniel Castro, Colombia's highest-ranking police officer.

Mr. Bush will also use his visit to Brazil to promote his vision that biofuels can ease the dependence on foreign oil, CBS News Radio correspondent Peter Maer reports.

Cars in Sao Paolo run on sugar-cane ethanol or a gasoline-ethanol blend. But both are more expensive than gasoline is in the United States, Maer reports.

Mr. Bush played down the protests in interviews ahead of his trip with Latin American news organizations.

"I am proud to be going to a part of the world where people can demonstrate, where people can express their minds," he said in an interview with Univision. And he told CNN En Espanol: "The trip is to remind people that we care."

Chavez, aligned with Cuba's Fidel Castro and a fierce critic of the president, is marking Mr. Bush's trip with a rival tour of the region.

On Saturday, the Venezuelan leader will speak at an "anti-imperialist" rally in a soccer stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, about 40 miles across the Plate River from Montevideo, where Mr. Bush will be holding talks with Uruguay's president, Tabare Vazquez.

Hadley told reporters that instead of worrying about Chavez, the president was "going to be focusing on those countries and those leaders that have the right model and the right ideas for a better Latin America."

In addition to Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, Mr. Bush is also visiting Guatemala and Mexico.

Mr. Bush did not plan visits to any countries that have moved into Chavez's sphere of influence, including Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

President Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva are expected to announce an "ethanol alliance" on Saturday aimed at creating quality standards for the alternative fuel while joining forces to promote more ethanol use in nations lying between Brazil and the United States.

Silva, in turn, has said he will press the U.S. Congress to repeal or scale back the 54-cent per gallon U.S. tariff on sugar-based Brazilian ethanol. Mr. Bush and Silva also were expected to talk about efforts to salvage the World Trade Organization talks — the so-called Doha round — that collapsed in discord last summer over farm subsidies and other disputes.

But he probably can't look to Mr. Bush for much help on that score. Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said tariff matters are "up to Congress" and that Mr. Bush wasn't expected to weigh in on the dispute.

Among those participating in Thursday's protests were environmentalists and social groups who oppose the biofuels project, fearing that Brazil may clear pristine jungle to ramp up sugarcane cultivation. Greenpeace activists hung a huge banner warning against increased reliance on ethanol as an alternative fuel on a monument to 17th-century Portuguese explorers and conquerors.

[younglbc]

Bush needs to resign and talk his stupid country-bumpkin a$$back to Texas. He an idiot but he doesn't understandwhy half of the Americans don't like him. If Bush wasn't president the slain soldiers would still be alive and 9/11 would have never happened, but thats what you get form electing a dumba$$ with absolutely no military experience or training. Vote For Barak Obama

[rvjrvj]

Does our president really care about the welfare of Latin American Countries?????

[dallison7]

Bush Heads For Latin America



GOOD RIDANCE!!

STAY THERE!!

[middleman8]

When this madman pays attention to you, your in trouble.

[fizzal-2009]

When Hugo Chavex speaks about his social movement he sure likes to talk through a device created by capitalism called the michrophone.

[sharncedar]

Latin America is Bush's home, its where his heart lies. His "nanny" whom he has publicly acknowlegded was closer to him than a mother, was a Latin fiend, from the dark, lawless nether regions of our continent. Bush's heart is hispanic, he believes in lawlessness, corruption, arrogance, and cruelty, he hates knowledge and learning, just like the rest of his hispanic race.

I echo the other poster in calling for him to stay there, don't come back. The hispanics love cruel, ignorant and corrupt leaders, they will love bush.

[karlimhof]

AP) President Bush embarked on a mission to challenge the widespread perception of U.S. neglect in Latin America which has helped fuel leftist leader Hugo Chavez's rising influence in America's backyard.


"challenge" what "perception" ? Have we allowed south america to think we don't care about them anymore?

Have these people forgotton all we've done for them?

Chile - Honduras & Nicaragua with Negroponte, the lovely Argentine general Pinochet we supported & Panama. All that economic help......

Chavez is in "America's backyard"? Oh, yeah, I forgot the Monroe Doctrine, Reagan Doctrine, and now the Neocon Doctrine.

I wonder how many thousands will be on streets thowing "flowers" at Bush ?

[horse3farm]

Yes, that's right, go to yet another country and tell them how great democracy is...yes, just give them a tour of the United States. They can then see for themselves how this democracy cares not at all for health care, for education, for the impoverished. In this democracy, the leader, with all his ego, is too busy pushing his insane agenda on other countries. What an ego-maniacal idiot.

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!

[grazinggoat]

When this madman pays attention to you, your in trouble.
Posted by middleman8

-Well said! Better for the latin Americans to hide from him...

[antoniof123]

In 08 I will vote for anyone who is not a Republican. I just can not stomach another one ever again. In fact I will be dead by the time most of my tax dollar is no longer used to pay for this war of choice. The jerks wonder why we are angry they have such nerve.

[gkc99]

Bushit is probably going down to check on the big land holdings that Jenna and Barbara scouted out for him in Uruguay on their recent trip to South America. It may be a private Guantanamo for him when the special prosecutors start closing in.

[iceman_1960]

"The trip is to remind people that we care," Mr. Bush said.

He's lying again.

He's losing American lives in Iraq to save his own face.

That's what he cares about.

I hope he was given one-way tickets.

[iceman_1960]

"Mr. Bush has packed a suitcase of strategies for nurturing trade, fighting drug-traffickers and curbing poverty and social inequality for his trip..."

Travelling light, Mr. Bush ?

[clemenhagen1]

What the president, and by extension the American public, needs to understand is that past actions and behaviors still resonate in regions like Latin America. Just a few examples to illustrate:

In 1954 the United States funded and trained a group to lead a coup in Guatemala. Why? United Fruit, a powerful multi-national corporation, ruled Guatemala as a virtual private state. A democratically elected leader named Jacabo Arbenz Guzman sought a land-redistribution program to address the crushing poverty in his country. He was branded a communist by the United States (obsurd on the surface because he advocated private plots for peasants - communists don't believe in private property, remember), and removed in a military coup. The junta that the CIA helped install ruled Guatemala as one of the worst-case human rights abusers in the hemishere. This story parallels others in the following: Allende/Pinochet in Chile, Somozas/Contras in Nicarauga, etc. This pattern of support for brutal right-wing dictatorships throughout Latin America worked to protect a wealthy elites while suppressing democracy. For Bush to feign disbelief as to why the Yanqui is so despised and distrusted by a vast majority of poor Latin Americans? Now that defies belief!

[iceman_1960]

I hope he packed some of his old jokes in that suitcase as well.

"Do you have blacks, too?" %u2014 George W. Bush to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001.

[vcbar]

Mr. Bush come in my country (Brazil). He wants our alcool fuel. So, the price after - up - and in few days I have put gas in my car again.

[observantx]

Little Georgie is probably checking out the 100,000 acre ranch he bought in Paraquay. He'll need it to run to & hide out when the Feds come for him.

[marcodele]

They're probably just scouting for domestic help for when they return to 'the ranch.'

[us_infidel]

You people are really pathetic. Is this all you do.....log on to CBS and have a hate Bush circle jerk? Better wipe your nose, dry your eyes, and get a life.

[billysmith6]

Gentler kinder Bush, hell.

He's just going direct to the source to get his nose candy. He doesn't like the cut stuff on the street.

He's just using lower class American tax dollars to fly him down to get it. Too bad the Coast Guard can't intercept Airforce 1, lol. They have a good bust, if they aren't guarding his Iraqi oil wells too!

[nolalou]

Maybe Bush can take some advice from Dan Quayle, who once said "I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people." :)

[luvny-2009]

God think they will keep him?

[randalds]

He's out of the country! Quick, someone change the locks on the door so he can't get back in! I'm sure he'd find a warm welcome and a loving place to live in Venezuela anyway. Take him Hugo. He's all yours and we hand him over gladly!

[marcodele]

US_Infidel: Is all you do is sit around all day long waiting for someone to say something critical of Junior so you can tell them to "get a life?" Hey Pot, Kettle called.

[j-whitman]

Bush Heads For Latin America ----- The Statue of Liberty just flipped him the bird, & she said "Don't Come Back".

[bluestardad]

HERE ARE THE SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION IN 08 WRITE THEM OR QUIT COMPLAINING! ASK THEM WHO IS PAYING THEIR SALARIES? TELL THEBASTARDS IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS WHO THEY WORK FOR!

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)
Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[agnim]

"Bush Heads For Latin America"

Please, lord, let him remain FOREVER, or at least until our men are safely out of Iraq! LOL

[gwagener]

Latin Americans live on $2 per day? So how come I'm sending my sister in Argentina $200/month? I think I'm getting ripped off!

[seven-pesos]

bush will get to use his spanish while he's in south america... all 5 words ( his whole vocabulary)

bush is just a ********* piece of slave state, faith professing, phony christian, redneck piece of dixie *****.

they still love bush in the south.

rednecks, white trash, war makers, phony christian creeps, twisted evangelist azzholes, ignorant, crooked republican snakes, uneducated, fat azzed, smelly slave state trash...

bush's kind of people.

the south elected bush...the south supports bush...the south still loves bush!

i ***** on the south.

i wipe my azz with the confederate flag.

nothing good comes out of the south!

[agnim]

Posted by nolalou at 02:18 PM : Mar 08, 2007

That Quayle joke is too good. LOL


Posted by US_Infidel at 02:04 PM : Mar 08, 2007

Must be painful for you to watch the bush burns, and your she-ro gets his comeuppance, eh? LOL

[gwagener]

seven-pesos wrote:
bush will get to use his spanish while he's in south america... all 5 words ( his whole vocabulary)

Nope, you are wrong about that. GWB is actually fairly fluent in Spanish. It was a factor in the 2004 election because Kerry's Spanish is very poor.

[crater7]

MIDDLE CLASS WORKERS ARE ABOUT TO BE SOLD OUT AGAIN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION; THIS PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA HAS ONLY ONE MISSION, TO SET UP A FREE TRADE UNION WITH MEXICO AND CANADA & THE U.S. THIS ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAS PLANS FOR ALLOWING FREE ACCESS OF MEXICAN TRUCKS, ON OUR AMERICAN HIGHWAYS. AMERICAN TRUCKER'S JOB SECURITY WILL BE THREATENED, AND WILL LIKELY SUFFER MANY JOB LOSES DUE TO CHEAP MEXICAN LABOR. THESE MEXICAN TRUCKERS, WILL CREATE A SAFTEY PROBLEM FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
GET READY MIDDLE CLASS, ONE CAN HEAR THAT FAMOUS SUCKING SOUND, AS MORE OR YOUR JOBS ARE ABOUT TO GO SOUTH.

[zippiez]

Hey Bush, did you remember to take your propaganda network (FOX) and self-important, name-calling bee atch, Ann Coulter, with you for company?

Maybe we will get lucky and Air Force One will have major problems at 35,000 feet....

[dogband]

Do use a favor, don't bother coming back. Better yet, scope out some country that has WMD, tell everyone we will save them from doom, and as everyone rallies to prove to us that the WMD do not exist, slant the intelligence, commit treason against anyone who says differently, go ahead and attack, then when it all goes to hell, tell us all how swell life is. When it is beyond hopeless, ask the neighbors who must live with the aftermath to help us clean it up. This way folks in the Southern hemisphere can hate us too.

[j-whitman]

Ykinfahoo,,,, No, that's not a good idea, there are some good people on Air Force 1 -- I'm hoping the pilot will recognize what his uniform stand for & throws Bush out the window.

[marcodele]

"Nope, you are wrong about that. GWB is actually fairly fluent in Spanish. It was a factor in the 2004 election because Kerry's Spanish is very poor."

Is he going to learn English next?

j-whitman Maybe the secret Service will do their duty so the flight crew remains safe.

[j-whitman]

Ann Coulter's Bush's new South American Advisor

[us_infidel]

Who really gives a flying f**k what latin america thinks - besides libs. What are they going to do, cut off our drug supply? Stop sending their unskilled fruit pickers across the border?

Bush should drop his pants and tell them all to kiss his big white a**!

[marcodele]

Infidel said: "Stop sending their unskilled fruit pickers across the border?"

Isn't it funny (or not) how the neocons all spew forth the same Archie Bunker stereotypes of practically everyone? Apparently if you're not a WASP you're evil.

[dallison7]

You people are really pathetic. Is this all you do.....log on to CBS and have a hate Bush circle jerk? Better wipe your nose, dry your eyes, and get a life.


Posted by US_Infidel


You're in here more than anyone, what does that make you?

[davek455]

US_Infidel - so we don't care for anyone who dares protest our poor choices, faulty intelligence and unilateral decisions on treaties and military actions....that means we have only Australia and maybe Bulgaria as safe places to visit. Thanks W and all those who voted for him...thanks for nothing!

[clemenhagen1]

What the president, and by extension the American public, needs to understand is that past actions and behaviors still resonate in regions like Latin America. Just a few examples to illustrate:

In 1954 the United States funded and trained a group to lead a coup in Guatemala. Why? United Fruit, a powerful multi-national corporation, ruled Guatemala as a virtual private state. A democratically elected leader named Jacabo Arbenz Guzman sought a land-redistribution program to address the crushing poverty in his country. He was branded a communist by the United States (obsurd on the surface because he advocated private plots for peasants - communists don't believe in private property, remember), and removed in a military coup. The junta that the CIA helped install ruled Guatemala as one of the worst-case human rights abusers in the hemishere. This story parallels others in the following: Allende/Pinochet in Chile, Somozas/Contras in Nicarauga, etc. This pattern of support for brutal right-wing dictatorships throughout Latin America worked to protect a wealthy elites while suppressing democracy. For Bush to feign disbelief as to why the Yanqui is so despised and distrusted by a vast majority of poor Latin Americans? Now that defies belief!

[gkc99]

Typical US neocon arrogance--Bushit thinks he'll roll in with a suitcase full of money, hand it over to some right wing generals hand picked by the traitor Ollie North, and all the South American peasantry will just love us. Bush, as an unelected representative of the world's wealthiest 1%, will no doubt push policies to screw workers and unions both here in the USA and in any country unfortunately enough to have a government that will give Bushit the time of day. After the US right wing's assistance in brutalizing the citizenry of Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and so forth, the South Americans would do well to send Bushit packing home on the next United Fruit banana boat.

[starleo146]

Pres. Bush Please just stay in your oval office till Dec,31,2008 do not say one word or have a press conference we cannot afford any one else being mad at us. Europe, Middle East, now South America. That is one thing you did well you allienated the whole world against us. Just sit quite you and your second in command and maybe people around the world will leave us alone.

[agnim]

Imagine beating up your own countrymen for this foreign person, the slayer of hundreds of thousands of women and children. Tsk-tsk

Those Brazilian in-security people are the biggest idiots.

[macusweil]

Bush is a 100% bone-a-fide LOSER!! WORST EVER president (or close to it) of these great United States of America.

"he'll (Bush)roll in with a suitcase full of money, hand it over to some right wing generals hand picked by the traitor Ollie North"

True brother, true, --as did his neo.con father and his neo.con father before him, only back the when they were know as fascists & Nazis.

[rharrin1]

They are afraid bush will fluckup Brazil also.

[edicius1]

This article is complete garbage. The protests occuring are minimal at worst. Of course if it looks bad for bush CBS will publish, no matter how small the "protests" are.

Even the AP is lying, I saw teh footage of the protests.

"more than 6,000 people..." MY ***

It is a couple hundred strong at best. But of course one zoomed in picture is enough to trick the masses that watch CBS.