The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.

It’s Always in the Last Place You Look

  • “Sophisticated Drug Tunnel Found in San Diego”–headline, Associated Press, Nov. 25
  • “Explosive Experts Find a Virtual Bomb-Making Factory in a San Diego Home”–headline, Daily Mail (London), Nov. 28

News of the Tautological
“Parity Keeps Many NFL Teams in It”–headline, New York Times website, Nov. 29

Bottom Stories of the Day
“Police: Willie Nelson Had Pot on Tour Bus”–headline, Bryan College Station (Texas) Eagle, Nov. 27

Slow Learners
“After more than 40 years in Congress, Rep. David Obey decided to walk away from Capitol Hill primarily because of the influence of money in politics,” reports Roll Call. “I detest what money is doing to politics,” Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Is this even remotely credible? Obey came to Congress in 1969, several years before Congress, reacting to the Watergate scandal, enacted limits on campaign contributions. Only now, nearly 42 years later, he’s discovered “the influence of money in politics”?

Appearing with Obey was another retiring Democratic congressman, Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota:

[Dorgan] agreed that he was ready to have “more time to do interesting things” after 30 years in the House and the Senate, plus 10 years in the elected position of tax commissioner of North Dakota.

“I want to have another chapter in my life,” the Democrat said. “You know, I’m not leaving because I’m upset, because I don’t like the Congress.

I have great respect for the Congress. It’s been a great gift to me to be able to serve given to me by the people of North Dakota.”

So it also took Dorgan 40 years to realize that what he was doing wasn’t interesting enough? Doesn’t it seem likelier that both Obey and Dorgan decided to leave in the face of serious challenges? (Both their seats will be held by Republicans in the next Congress.)

Oh well, we suppose at least their explanations are more creative than the classic “I want to spend more time with my family.” And Roll Call reports that Obey also said “he is looking forward to . . . ‘perhaps increasing my allotment of gin and tonics from time to time.’ ” Hard to find fault with that.

For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”