Senator Shelby of Alabama announced that he is releasing his “hold” on all but three of President Obama’s nominations for a myriad of positions. Shelby had placed a blanket hold on the Senate nominating these individuals to “get Obama’s attention” and try to force the White House to build an FBI and Air Force facility in his state of Alabama.

Senators can often place these holds on individual nominations. It is typically done to focus on another project, to allow time to research the individual, or in a time of crisis. Never before, however, has someone so abused this privilege. Shelby placed holds on over 70 nominations and kept them away from the Senate for nearly a year.

If we needed to see a real life example of why the politics of no are ridiculous, partisan, and petty – here you go. He threw a fit over some earmarks and held up 70 qualified people and prevented our government from operating as it should. Not because we are in a crisis. Surely not to focus on health care, and not because they are not qualified – but because he wanted his state to get the money.

Petty, pathetic, and worthy of being removed in the fall.