Bush diktat costs America the Olympics

When Cincinnati's economic booster class wanted to bring the Olympics to town, I took exception. The region lacks the infrastructure or facilities to handle it, and I knew local residents would be treated as criminals just stepping outside their house.

But Chicago really wanted the 2016 Summer Olympics. If they can handle it, that's their prerogative.

But Chicago didn't get the Olympics. The Windy City was the last choice of the International Olympic Committee. Why?

It turns out it's because the IOC didn't want athletes and fans to have to deal with Bush's tourist visa policy. Bush barked down this policy after 9/11.

Michael Froomkin, a law professor at the University of Miami in Florida, said that "the same stupid anti-visitor policy that is destroying American higher education" also cost America its hope of hosting the Olympics.

I'm not talking about minor inconveniences like customs agents asking tourists if they're bringing in beer. This is major: Even Americans have wound up dead in U.S. airport questioning rooms while trying to return home from abroad.

And who wants to spend bazillions on Olympics tickets only to find out they can't fly to Chicago just because someone with a similar name is on the no-fly list (the Bushist Bible)?

Say what you want about the Republicans at large, but one thing is for sure: Bush will forever be remembered as the Energizer Bunny of economic ruin.

In the meantime, it's long past time to reverse Bush's visa rules.

(Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/02/chicago-olympics-bush)