Moving the island

While it may be tempting to read Republican protest over executive pay caps as just another example of Bush-inspired political incompetence, in fact I think they see no other option.

Much as Ben Linus rebuked Charles Widmore for "changing the rules," congressional Republicans flail as the very premise of government as they understand it -- to facilitate the prerogatives of business at the taxpayer's expense -- is challenged, however lamely. Because they have never known anything else, Republicans can't help but register distress, even if it makes them appear ridiculous to the rest of the population, who maintain an attitude that government intervention in the public interest is "normal."