Rendell as Aragorn

Philadelphia Daily News compares Rendell to Aragorn (of the Lord of the Rings), in his speech to the SEPTA board:

A day may come when the courage of men fails!" Rendell's Aragorn told a startled-looking SEPTA board of directors. "But it is not this day! This day, we fight!"

What Rendell wants the SEPTA board to do is "aggressively lobby state legislators to pass his proposed excess-profits tax on oil companies". In other words, he wants the taxpayer-funded board to lobby for more taxpayer funds for themselves. Very courageous.

Don't let them buy you off for 12 pieces of silver!" Rendell said, abandoning "Lord of the Rings" for his own interpretation of Judas' betrayal price, which was actually 30 pieces of silver.

So to avoid getting "bought off" by legislators, ask them for more money?