"It's not about left wing vs. right wing," writes Huffington. "It's about left brain vs. right brain." And then she explains that the amygdala, the fear-generating portion of the brain (a.k.a. lizard brain), clicks into survival mode when you're threatened. The reflexive process is set in motion: fight, flight or freeze.
Huffington explains that Americans' support for Bush constitutes an infantile dependence on authority (Daddy) to protect us from danger.
To which one is compelled to respond: Damned tootin'.
No one but the most die-hard partisan goes to the polls Tuesday without a trace of doubt. Bush has been an imperfect leader, especially as concerns the war's aftermath. It seems clear now that no one planned adequately for the mess we're in.
On the other hand, it is too soon to adjudge Iraq a mistake. If we had the patience of our enemies, we wouldn't yet have begun to take measure of these events. To an enemy that bides time by centuries, the battle is barely begun.
Meanwhile, Kerry hasn't managed to make the case that he's more likely to improve matters. He has a "plan," but even he doesn't seem to know what it is. His assurances that other nations will join us if he's elected, that the United Nations will come to our aid, that other leaders prefer him to Bush, are anything but assuring.
The United Nations is weak on credibility these days given its involvement in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal, in which essentially the fox and hens were partying together. As for the support of other nations and leaders, do we really care that North Korea's butcher in chief and Saddam's Baathists prefer Kerry? "Beheaders for Kerry," now there's a bumper sticker for the family Humvee.
Whichever way the election goes, one thing is true: The wolves are out there and they are circling. While we're enjoying the privilege of determining our own fate, we might recall that we weren't afraid on Sept. 10, 2001.
When the wolves are circling, it sometimes makes sense to think like a wolf. At such times, primitive fear may be the only rational response.