This is what a Real News Story looks like: Shelby Relents and Releases Holds... sort of

By GottaLaff

A few days ago, I posted about Richard Shelby putting a hold on 70-- count 'em-- of President Obama's nominees, in essence shutting down what's left of the government.

That was then. This is now:

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) "has released his controversial 'holds' on more than 70 pending presidential nominations," the Washington Post reports.

"Senators, usually from the minority party, often use the legislative tactic on one or a few presidential nominees, usually to protest parochial concerns. Shelby's maneuver, aimed at all appointments awaiting confirmation on the Senate floor, agitated Democrats because it would effectively limit confirmation votes to a handful per month. It also marked a low point in a partisan standoff in the Senate that has forced Democrats to find 60 votes to pass almost everything."

"Senate Democratic aides confirmed that Shelby had released most holds, but Shelby said he would continue to block other, unnamed nominees."

This has not made news, surprisingly. And the news is that the GOP has obstructed every single thing the Democrats have tried to do, often with no rationale other than to... obstruct.

That's news.

But we're not hearing about it.

If this story were to be pushed as hard as the Big Countdown to Palin's crib-noted speech was, America might see the GOP differently than it does now. But it doesn't. It buries real news with anything and everything that will increase ratings, and therefore increase ad revenue.

And that, you see, is how the corporate owned news media negatively affects voters, elections, and our very democracy.