Most of the time, he sits idly, disillusioned by the complexity of life and a sense of powerlessness as a passenger on the vehicle that is our nation- seeking only his survival and the happiness of those around him. But adequately provoked by the thought that he's being made a fool of, he may lash out.

He at times fantasizes as to how he might regain some of his dignity. Some of that fantasy is in fact being played out now, on the airwaves and on the internet, as those of the left who think they're fighting back by ridiculing the foibles of the president, or cataloguing the inconsistencies of policy and reality that materialize daily. They're preaching to the choir, and they know it- at times they revel in it, like it's an inside joke of some kind. Somehow, it's not funny anymore.

Forget weapons of mass-destruction. This new terrorist knows that the weapon needed to solve this problem has a target of one. If it existed, it would strike more fear in the candidates than potential mass destruction. It is a weapon of potential self-destruction, or self-redemption, and it would be directed at them, and our political process and the media that spins the world around us to our doorsteps. It would be called The Truth Bomb, and it would force all in its path to tell the truth.

In a few days, the candidates will face off in the first of what hopefully will be a series of debates. To both of them, I say this:

First, show up. Dodging a forum due to "scheduling problems", even if you create them yourself, or unhappiness about the venue or lack of control over the entire process looks bad. How can we believe you have what it takes to deal with the problems we face if you can't even face your opponent, whom you characterize as being weak in the face of danger?

Second, answer the questions, be they from a moderator or from the public in a public forum. To respond with a prepackaged statement that has little to do with the question asked shows a contempt for the American people, and, frankly, cowardice on your part. Your courage to directly answer a question will mean more to us than your service in Vietnam, or your presence in the National Guard. If you don't know the answer, say so- that's what your advisers will be for. It takes more courage to say you don't know, or that you've done something you regret, than it does to try to spin the truth or to lie to us- remember, most of us have been parents of teenagers, and I promise you, those of us who's kids feel they can tell us the truth have better relationships. We're all grownups here, and we can tell the difference when you're B.S.ing us.

My fear is that all of you have ceased to know what the Truth is; You keep spinning "truths" at us, hoping that a story line will gain traction (or go away) and allow you to move on to the next issue, "truth" be damned. And we, the American public, are not far behind, thanks to you.

But I can tell you this: you'll reap what you sow. We can handle a sorry truth, but if it's clear we're being lied to, we'll create our own realities (as we've already gotten too good at) that will be at odds with what you think. And it won't be pretty.

For now, the new terrorist has one weapon that exists today. Witness the endurance of our nation, 228 years strong, and know the power of the most revered, and, in some parts of the world, feared, weapon that man has known: the power of the vote. Just as a war is not won by a single bullet, but rather a collective effort of tactics and manpower, elections are won by the sum of those who participate in the process.

Demand the truth. And vote.