A disturbance in the force I feel. A new Sith lord now asks to be President -- Lord McCain.
With his apprentice Palin, they draw strength from the essense of the dark side:
Anger, Fear,  Agression, Racism and Hatred.

As I have said:
 "Fear is the path to the dark side: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. Suffering feeds the fear"

Is the dark side stronger? No, it is simply more seductive.

Lord McCain is a master of deception and illusion. Tries to hide behind the skirts of his apprentice does he, yet their true hues of darkness still shine through.

Beware of quick phases (sound-bytes), and simplifications. Beware the ideologies which hide behind them. Think, Ponder, Study and Vote!

How to prepare for the unknown? (I assume you mean something which is known, but the effects of which are not.)

First I try prayer, and in meditation I try to recall some similar event in history. Second I consider the similarities and differences to my current situation, and try to come up with a few senarios which may occur. These two exersizes often provide me with some insight/preparation for a sequence of events.

Of course it doesn't always work. Sometimes life just hands you your head on a platter. For those times, (which are more reaction than preparation) I just try to remember that there are probably thousands of people who have it a lot worse. (Half of the world's population survives on only a few dollars a day.)

(Music is also helpful: Phil Collins Another Day in Paradise is a good example.)