Weekly Political and Entertainment NewsScope

by WolfStar

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January 8, 2007

Bush to Propose More Troops for Iraq

Last week, in preparation for his new strategy in Iraq, President Bush replaced his top military commanders and national security advisers. This Wednesday, Bush will most likely announce a phased escalation that adds 20,000 American combat troops, plus a billion-dollar jobs program for Iraqis. Meanwhile, leaders from the new Democratic Congress insisted that a phased withdrawal of American troops should begin immediately.

Astrologically, Bush's plans for victory arrive under the influence of a highly-charged Mars-Pluto conjunction, which becomes exact on January 13. Mars and Pluto are the warriors of the zodiac, and when their energies combine by aspect - and especially the conjunction - the determination to win becomes overwhelming. The problem for Bush is that his political opponents and military enemies are just as determined to win.

Two weeks ago, this column forecast that Bush would unveil his new policy on January 10*, based on the timing of the Venus-Chiron conjunction squaring the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. Chiron's long-term message to Bush was to escalate the fight (see NewsScope December 18, 2006), and as the fast-moving, diplomatic Venus conjoins Chiron, Bush will dress up the new plan as best he can.

Looking out over the next few months, transiting Saturn and Neptune will be opposing each other on February 28, the second of their three celestial encounters. The imperialistic Saturn in Leo is challenged by the nebulous, dissolving influences of Neptune in Aquarius. Neptune brings chaos, where Saturn attempts to set boundaries and control the outcome. The alignment hits Bush's Venus, and one might expect his popularity (Venus) to reach an all-time low.
 

Parallel Lives: Mike McConnell and Mick Jagger

Last week, President Bush announced that the chief of the recently formed National Intelligence Agency, John Negroponte, is moving over to the State Department. Bush nominated former NSA head Mike McConnell to replace him as director of the NIA, where his primary tasks will be to coordinate the 16 intelligence agencies and complete a National Intelligence Estimate of Iraq's chances of surviving as an independent country.

Mike McConnell was born with his Leo Sun conjunct Jupiter and Pluto (July 26, 1943; Greenville, SC; time unknown), a charismatic, powerful combination that easily overwhelms mere mortals with its dominating, theatrical personality. Curiously, Mick Jagger was also born on July 26, 1943, and both of these men have known fabulous success in their chosen professions. McConnell's most recent job was as Vice President of a mega-intelligence contractor headquartered near the CIA.

McConnell came into this world around the same time that American intelligence agencies began taking shape, a time characterized astrologically by the Saturn-Uranus conjunction in Gemini, the sign of information and intelligence. The asteroid Vesta is particularly associated with secret agencies, and McConnell's Vesta gains strength by being in Gemini where it forms an exact sextile to his Sun.

McConnell's North Node at 16º Leo is precisely conjunct the U.S. Midheaven, aligning his karmic path with the nation's destiny. As he was appointed to the new post, transiting Vesta in secretive Scorpio was squaring both his North Node and the U.S. Midheaven. Of course, the same configuration affects Mick Jagger's chart, and the way he plays it out is as executive producer of the new sitcom "Knights of Prosperity", which debuted last week, and features a devoted group of bumbling spies.

Rosie versus The Donald

As moderator for The View, Rosie O'Donnell is paid to express her opinions, and she didn't hold back when Donald Trump decided to give Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance. The Donald fired back, calling Rosie a "big fat pig", and then Rosie said he was a "pimp". The fiery clash escalated all last week, and shows no signs of abating any time soon.

The feud between these two bigmouths arrived as transiting Mars and Pluto headed into their conjunction. The Mars-Pluto vibe, simmering under the political surface over Bush's proposed troop escalation, came out in full force through Rosie and Donald's less-restrained personalities. Rosie (March 21, 1962; Commack, NY; time unknown) has her Sun in fiery Aries, and mostly readily responds to the Mars-Pluto transit since her own Mars opposes Pluto.

Rosie's chart features the communications planet Mercury conjunct her Mars, giving her a jump on any verbal clash. With this configuration involving Mercury-Mars-Pluto, words are meant to devastate the opponent. Donald (June 14, 1946; 9:51 am; Queens, NY) has his Moon in highly opinionated Sagittarius where it opposes volatile Uranus. This set-up is highly reactive, and with Mars rising, The Donald can give as good as he gets.

Whenever comparing two natal charts for compatibility factors, one connection to avoid is the Mars-Uranus conjunction: his Mars is conjunct her Uranus. This intra-aspect leads to fireworks, and is quickly ignited by even the most minor of transits, but especially now, as both are hit by the transiting Mars-Pluto conjunction. Also, Donald's Midheaven and Rosie's Saturn are being activated by transiting Chiron, indicating that there's plenty of hurt feelings. Maybe they can make nice when transiting Venus conjoins Chiron this coming Wednesday.

* see NewsScope December 25, 2006. This kind of prediction is only possible when using an accurate U.S. horoscope.
 
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