The Finger of God Shakes Up Washington Politics

Republican Senator James Jeffords defected from his party last week, shifting
the precarious balance of power from 50-50 standoff to a Democratic majority
of 51-49. President Bush's conservative agenda will be stalled since Senate
committee heads switch to Democratic leadership. Jeffords asked for and will
receive what he considers the most important committee chairmanship: the
Environment and Public Works, which handles environmental policies.*

The man setting off this political revolution is a rock solid Taurus (May 11,
1934; Rutland, VT; time unknown), with his Mercury, Mars, and Ceres also in
Taurus adding stability and political longevity. Jeffords' decision to bolt
from the GOP demonstrates the astrological principle that when a Taurus
changes, earthquakes happen since everything that has grown around and relied
on the earthy Taurus is suddenly uprooted.

Although Jeffords is nominally an Independent now, he has not changed
ideologically as much as the Republicans have moved to the far Right. The
closest planetary aspect in his horoscope, Mars quincunx Jupiter, reveals the
inherent tension between his desire for political conservatism (Mars in
Taurus), and the opportunity to win by being in the majority party (Jupiter
in Libra).

Transiting Pluto came along to create a third leg to this Mars-Jupiter link.
Together, these three planets create a dynamic Yod, a fateful combination
also known as the Finger of God. Jeffords' Mars and Jupiter, and transiting
Pluto are all exactly aligned with the U.S. Saturn in Libra, representing the
political power structure. They also hit George Bush's Sun, so that everyone
in Washington and around the world is impacted by Jeffords' momentous
decision.

The Neptune Files

With Neptune's ongoing square to the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, an unusual
number of socio-political developments concerning drugs have become lead
stories in the national media. Neptune, as the natural ruler of both legal
and illegal drugs, will continue through the end of June to play a leading
role in current events.

Following Senator Jeffords' defection, Senator Edward Kennedy will take over
the Health, Labor, and Pensions Committee. From that forum Kennedy will
likely push for a patient's bill of rights bill, price controls on
pharmaceuticals, and other measures that will make life more difficult for
the drug companies.

On May 14 the Supreme Court struck down a California law that allows
marijuana to be used as a medical exception to the federal Controlled
Substances Act. The high court's decision reverses a liberalization momentum
in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
where voters have approved ballot measures allowing the use of medical
marijuana.

Neptune often gives hope, and last week at the annual oncology conference a
record 26,000 cancer researchers briefed the world on the good news coming
out of their laboratories. A new class of drugs known as angiogenesis
inhibitors has demonstrated positive results in killing cancer cells. For the
first time since President Nixon declared war on cancer 30 years ago (one
Saturn cycle), pharmacology holds the possibility of finding a cure for
cancer.

Ben Affleck's Pearl Harbor Tribute

The high expectations for the $135 million blockbuster Pearl Harbor were met
last week with mixed reviews. Ben Affleck plays one of Pearl Harbor's three
lead characters, a flyboy caught in a romantic triangle as war looms.

Affleck's heroic Leo Sun (August 15, 1972; 2:53 am; Berkeley, CA) is
powerfully enhanced by favorable aspects to Jupiter, Chiron, and Saturn,
giving him natural icon status. As one reviewer noted, " Affleck confirms his
A-List presence who can carry a big, boldly contoured movie, partly because
you feel he enjoys being a star and is comfortable with stardom."

The natal planet most relevant to making Pearl Harbor is Saturn, found in
Affleck's 12th house. Saturn here carries the memory of wounds from the past
(perhaps past lives), and now that transiting Saturn is returning, an
awareness of the forgotten heritage. During the filming of Pearl Harbor,
Affleck's progressed Mars began forming a square to his 12th house Saturn, a
combination which naturally remembers the hardships of wartime combat, and
especially surprise attack from secret enemies.

Affleck's progressed Mars became exactly square to his natal Saturn last
week, precisely as Pearl Harbor hit the big screens. The challenges
instigated by this very difficult Mars-Saturn combination included ego
conflicts with director Michael Bay, and the pressure to live up to being
billed as "the next Harrison Ford." Saturn in the 12th can be
self-sacrificing, and apart from giving up his normal $10 million salary,
Affleck says "I certainly hope the veterans feel honored because this is
meant to be a tribute to them."

* see last week's NewsScope for more on the growing importance of the
environmental movement.

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