The President's Bumpy Trip Through Latin America

President George Bush heads for Latin America today at a moment of very low popularity both here and there. His five nation trip will take him to Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.

The trip will make headlines for two big reasons. First, conventional wisdom says the Bush Administration has paid little more than lip service to the region over the years which leaves many scratching their heads over why the president is going now. And second because of a subtext which pits Bush against the rising influence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Massive protests are planned in several places.