October 23, 2000
Presidential Race Goes Down to the Wire
With two weeks remaining before Americans choose their next President,
pollsters and pundits agree that the race is a dead heat. Bush and Gore
strategists know that any slip-up now will cost their candidate the election
as advertising dollars and political messages are being diverted to swing
states and voters.
Who will win? In this toss up election the political astrologer is tested to
move beyond personal wishes and indecipherable trends to read the planetary
signals. With Mercury retrograde right up to the election date, anything
could happen to shift voters one way or the other. Then, the Sun-Uranus
square on November 7 promises an exciting finish. Among the many astrological
messages one could consider, this Sun-Uranus square is the most important
since it is precisely aligned with the U.S. Midheaven.
The Sun-Uranus square makes direct hits to both Bush's and Gore's personal
horoscopes. Gore's Saturn in Leo receives the brunt of an exact opposition
from transiting Uranus, brought alive on November 7 by the square from the
transiting Sun. Saturn's task to control and command is upset by this
combination, which frequently promises disappointment. Transiting Neptune on
Gore's Descendant points to his growing reputation for a lack of credibility.
Bush's horoscope gets favorably awakened by this Sun-Uranus combination since
Uranus is exactly trine to his Moon-Juno conjunction, and also closely trine
his Jupiter - all in Libra. Transiting Uranus trine Jupiter promises success,
and with his progressed Midheaven in Gemini creating a Grand Trine, Bush
looks like the odds-on favorite. All these planets are in Air signs,
indicating that his advertising strategists know what they're doing.
Ralph Nader, the Wildcard
While voters have developed a grudging acceptance that either Bush or Gore
will be the next president, consumer-activist Ralph Nader's campaign has
generated the excitement and enthusiasm of a genuine movement. In the
critical swing states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington,
Nader has consistently drawn capacity crowds at his fund-raisers, with
participants paying a modest $10 each.
Nader (February 27, 1934; 4:52 am; Winsted, CT) was born with cause-oriented
Aquarius Rising. His Mercury-Pallas-Mars triple conjunction describes a
highly vocal and opinionated personality, tempered by his Pisces natural
sympathy for the underdog. Nader's sharply focused message stands in contrast
to Bush's and Gore's desire to not offend anyone, especially corporate
backers.
One of the central astrological factors that Americans look for in their
leaders is a strongly placed Saturn. Bush's low acceptance as presidential
caliber can be attributed to his weakly placed Saturn. Nader on the other
hand, has Saturn in his first house where it makes many links to planets all
around his chart.
Nader is in the position of being kingmaker. Transiting Jupiter squares his
Sun right through the election process, giving him key political
opportunities. Watch over the coming two weeks for Nader's profile to be
broadcast over much wider audiences. How he uses his popular appeal may make
for some interesting political developments.
Gwen Verdon's Damn Yankees
Call it coincidence, irony, or divine providence, but the last time the World
Series featured a New York vs. New York match-up was in 1956, the same year
Gwen Verdon starred as the devil's disciple Lola in "Damn Yankees." Gwen
Verdon died peacefully in her sleep last Wednesday, the day after baseball
fans were assured of a Subway Series.
Gwen Verdon was born an ambitious Capricorn (January 13, 1925; 9:57 am; Los
Angeles) with Pisces Rising, the sign associated with dance. Eccentric,
talented Uranus is positioned right on her Ascendant, coloring her entire
persona. Verdon was widely known for wildly entertaining, energetic dancing
style, but she was so spontaneous and creative, no partner could follow her.
Venus, the ruler of song and dance, is in her tenth house of career. Venus
here is dramatically enhanced by participating in a Fire Grand Trine with
Mercury, Neptune, and Ceres. Jupiter also resides in the tenth house, giving
her plenty of opportunity to fulfill her dreams on stage and in film.
However, life was anything but a bowl of cherries for Verdon since she was
born with crippled legs.
The Sun squares Chiron, giving an inner sense of woundedness. Chiron is in
Aries and conjunct Mars, so the feeling of inadequacy comes from an inability
to be fully assertive and expressive. With the indomitable will power shown
by Mars square Pluto, and the wise and able assistance from her mother (Ceres
trine Midheaven and Venus), Verdon was able to overcome her handicap and
become the greatest Broadway star of the Fifties.
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