I don't give a shit how good someone skates, U.S. citizenship

should not be bought, sold, awarded or tacked on to some frickin last minute bill.

Would they have done the same for a hirsute former East German female shot putter?

This country has turned into a looney bin run by greedy bastards and delusional religous fanatics. I think I will use my gift cards for Guns and Ammo-I may need them.

Edited for Agent Mike.

I saw this crap this morning on the daily news show.

Agent Mike's crosshairs.... you really must. :)

Are we trading citizenship for olympic athletes? I never paid alot of attention to the Olympics, and once they allowed pros in I pay no attention to it al all...

Iron Curtain countries subsidized their "pros", made it wonderful when we did win..Now that we do the same, the whole thing is not that interesting.. he skating is pretty to look at, but I hate the way the whole thing is presented, so I rarely watch..

I actually liked watching the "school figures" and enjoyed watching the 23rd place pairs team from Lithuania. It made the eventual winners' performances more meaningful.

These days all we see is the mandatory sob story up-close-and-personal and only see the finals.. B o r i n g !

should mean the newborn is automatically an American citizen. That's nonsense.

of the paranoid loonies yourself.

Stay with us rational people.

Redstone

skater become a US citizen so she can perform in the olympics. They probably made a large contribution to the * family.

Guess this will be one "American" skater I'll be rooting against. First time I've ever rooted against an American in the Olympics! Just when I think nothing crazier can happen thanks to Bush, here comes another one.

Oh wait, I forgot...she's NOT AN AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Citizenships bought and sold for Olympic medals don't really count.

They happen to be a bi-national team and could represent the US or Canada but she decided she wants to become an American. They are considered favorites for a medal.

I mean it. I tried positioning my arm like hers, and I broke MY arm. Ouch.

No, seriesly, I know all about double klutzes and triple moo-cows and all that stuff. I even once did a triple-whammy-crotch-splitting-oh-shit-that-hurtz the very first (and only) time I tried ice skating (in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, of all places!).

No, REALLY seriesly, I've read the thread, and I know she's jumped through the requisite hoops for citizenship, this is just expediting the process, and they're good. I wish them luck. :thumbsup:

money solves everything.

can't get it but great skaters can. What a bunch of crap!

(well, maybe it's too late for that)...you need to understand the story of what really went on here.

Tanith Belbin, the skater of which you speak, is not a last-minute Johnny-come-lately who just wants U.S. citizenship so she can compete for the United States at the Olympics. She has been teamed up with her American partner, Ben Agosto, since 1998. Realizing that she would only be able to compete with him in an Olympics if she too were a U.S. citizen, she began the naturalization process in 2000. At that time, prospective U.S. citizens were required to first apply for a visa and then apply for green card. She did this. However, in 2002, the rules were changed, allowing application for a visa and green card simultaneously and shortening the residency requirement to about five and a half years, as opposed to eight. Had Belbin been able to first apply for U.S. citizenship under the new rules as of 2002, she would have had her citizenship by now. But she was playing by old rules, so essentially, she and a bunch of other people in a similar situation got screwed.

Prior to the last few months, both she and her partner were completely accepting of the fact that they would have to miss the 2006 Olympics, as they did the 2002 Olympics (although they qualified), because of the citizenship issue. Only in the past few months did a political push begin (not instigated by them) to introduce legislation that would help Belbin and other would-be citizens.

Along with Belbin, other "aliens of extraordinary ability" will benefit from the same provision she is benefiting from. If you don't think it's worth it for a skater, perhaps it's worth it for someone else who got caught by the same problem. A ballet dancer? A musician? It's only too bad that everyone in Belbin's situation hasn't had their problem solved. It would be the right thing to do.

What it comes down to is this: This young woman is no "ringer" dragged across the border at the last second and granted a special charm by the Citizenship Fairy just so she can win a medal for the good ole USA. She's been competing with her partner and winning honors with him for years--they placed second at last year's world championships--and she's been trying to become a citizen for five years now. If anyone deserves for this to happen, they do because of their patience, and because they never once whined about the situation. They're fine representatives of the United States and I hope they do well at the Olympics. Even if they don't, I'll still be glad they are there.

Edited to correct and add details, including this: The sponsors of this legislation were Senator Levin of Michigan--a Democrat--and Congressman McCotter of the 11th District. No doubt, their work reflects the fact that Belbin lives and trains in their state. And to my knowledge, the only thing * had to do with this was signing it.

I was wondering what the background was because I've never heard of a last minute citizenship like this before. I also haven't heard of them, or maybe I'm just not putting their names with faces. Anyway, I wish them well too. Looking forward to the Olympics, as always.

white horse (one he's not afraid of) to save the day like Mighty Mouse.

Why didn't they make this law applicable to everyone who was affected adversely by the change in the law rather than just to those with "extraordinary ability?" What will they do with a beautician who claims she has "extraordinary ability" as a hair stylist and has letters from her customers saying that?

Thank you for the very informative post and colorful imagery. I keep thinking about what the "Citizenship Fairy" looks like and picturing Dubyah in a wig, makeup and a tutu.

Since * is so willing to help these skaters, maybe he can send Tonya Harding's ex-husband to the Olympics under CIA cover to "even the playing field."

law NAFTA?

It's not like everyone doesn't stay glued to the TV 24/7 or anything like that.

BerryBush's post above) I would not have gotten so bent out of shape and posted this to begin with. Instead they went with a "Bush gives 'gift' to pretty female skater" approach with some short skirt skating shots.

Live their lives here basically but then represent a country they have barely seen in the past 10 years? I always found that ironic as well.