¡Bush, vai para casa!

MANIFESTO

It's long been a tradition of failing presidents that they leave the country every so often in order to avoid the hideous news at home, or, at least, change the subject for a day or two. (Most memorable was a trip Richard Nixon took to the Middle East at the height of the Watergate case that nearly killed him as his phlebitis flared up.)

And so it is that President Unelected has left the US and the US Attorneys scandal, the Libby verdict, and the Walter Reed debacle for warmer climes. Unfortunately, our feckless leader has found his sojourn thus far even more uncomfortable than sitting in Washington.

As President Bush flew [to Sao Paolo, Brazil] Thursday on Air Force One, thousands of protesters shouting "Out, Bush!" marched down this city's main drag, Avenida Paulista.

Hundreds of riot police flanked at least 6,000 demonstrators near the city's financial center, and the scent of tear gas hovered along the march route. At least three protesters and a news photographer were reported hurt as baton-wielding police and demonstrators clashed, but there was no immediate word on their condition. Authorities later said that 16 police officers suffered minor injuries.

"We don't want Bush here!" shouted Marcelo Prado, 19. "Tell him to go home!"

Bush arrived Thursday night to begin a five-country visit to Latin America designed to bolster U.S. standing in the region and counter the growing influence of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. National security advisor Stephen J. Hadley, on Air Force One, said, "The president is going to do what he's been doing for a long time: talk about a positive agenda."

Stephen Hadley is an idiot: There is no "positve agenda" to articulate. This is the same old nonsense: spouting platitudes of good news where none exist.

I might add that it's good to see that at least some people are paying attention and taking to the streets to decry Boy George's hideous policies.