Richard Shelby Takes a Deep Breath, Lets Go of His Holds on Obama Appointees

Remember this bit of mindless important obstructionism?

Having proved his obstructionist important point, Sen. Richard Shelby is finally backing down…

Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama will stop blocking Senate confirmation of about 70 government appointees nominated by President Barack Obama, his office said.

Shelby had placed "holds" on most of Obama's nominees, delaying the Senate from acting on them, in a dispute over federal spending involving his state.

"The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security - the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center," Shelby spokesman Jonathan Graffeo said in a statement Monday night.

Wow.

Imagine all the trouble that could've been avoided if Sen. Shelby's staffers had shown him how to operate that square-shaped talking box thing on his desk.