In promulgating his much-desired Iraqi War, Mr. Bush has badgered and bludgeoned us with warnings of a dire and imminent threat. Although there are few hard, cold facts to buttress his argument, he nonetheless plunges ahead, sometimes pulling supportive evidence out of a magician’s hat. The most recent example of this is the chorus of accusation from administration officials that al Qaida is clearly connected with Saddam, though no real proof has emerged to bolster this conclusion, even in Tony Blair’s dossier of Iraqi sins.
According to several sources, these bullying tactics were Mr. Bush’s hallmark in Texas. They were certainly apparent when he rammed his tax cut through Congress last year. With both the tax cut and the current Iraqi enterprise, Bush has demonstrated an intense persistence that borders on the obsessive, and the reasons justifying the stated goals are neither coherent nor consistent. What is consistent is the badgering and the pressure felt by those who oppose him.
The very clear indicator of this pattern in Mr. Bush’s chart is the conjunction of Pluto and Mercury to the Leo Ascendant. His entire personality (Ascendant) is tied up with this feeling of an intense desire to acheive goals that will brook no opposition (Pluto). Pluto here manipulates and pressures, obsessively pursuing its objectives, and often is unable to pause and reflect or even alter the original plan. Invariably, profound power struggles develop with those who do not want to go along for the ride.
Furthermore, a person with the Ascendant conjunct Pluto often wants control over every detail of his surroundings. Bush’s well-known intolerance for tardiness or cell phones beeping during meetings is an example of this. His difficulty with impromptu press conferences is another. The fact that his Pluto/ Ascendant conjunction is in the fixed sign Leo only adds to the inflexibility and desire for dominance in this configuration. It is no coincidence that when Jupiter, which expands and energizes what it touches, was conjunct Bush’s Pluto earlier this month, we were informed of the Bush Doctrine to Control the World.
Interestingly, the Bush Inaugural chart contains a great deal of Pluto activity as well. There is a Sun /Pluto semisquare which is currently being intensified by the exact transit of Pluto to the semisquare position. Hence, we see terrific power struggles unfolding between the administration and both its allies and adversaries: the Democrats in Congress, over Homeland Security and the War Powers Resolution; the European allies, over the wording and existence of a UN resolution and over the necessity for war; and Saddam, over the extent of weapons inspections and disarmament. In the Inaugural chart, Pluto rules the 7th House of allies and open enemies. This transit will peak around October 21, 2002, at which time some of these struggles will probably recede. It is likely that Congress will give Bush his War Powers Resolution by then, even if it is slightly watered down.
By mid-October, and into the early days of November just prior to the election, Bush will be under some uplifting and optimistic aspects, suggesting he will feel some success in his endeavors. Most likely this will mean campaigning in front of adoring crowds and raising money. It also suggests that he will be optimistic about the election and that his war plans are on schedule. His tertiary progressed Sun will be square natal Venus through the end of October, and transiting Jupiter will be sextile his natal Moon right up to the election.
But mid-November brings an assortment of aspects that suggest things will not be going as well as Mr. Bush had expected. On the one hand, there is likely to be a resurgence of the unilateralism that he strove to hide with his much-anticipated gesture to the UN. The last acute phase of the administration’s unilateralism peaked just around the time of the UN speech and was indicated by the tertiary progressed Inaugural Sun conjunct natal Uranus. As of approximately November 10, for a month’s duration, we will witness Inaugural tertiary progressed Midheaven conjunct natal Uranus, already stimulated by secondary progressed Mercury in the same degree. This could energize the administration, now armed with a War Resolution from Congress, in its impatient quest to rid the world of Saddam (and take over his oil fields) despite the World’s opposition.
On the other hand, there are indications that Mr.Bush will be forced into a holding pattern by late November through December 2002. During that period, the administration may run into frustrations and obstacles in the pursuit of its goals. Inaugural tertiary progressed Sun and tertiary progressed Mercury will be, simultaneously, square to natal Saturn from November 20 through the end of December. In addition, in Bush’s chart we find that transiting Neptune will be once again quincunx natal Mars (11/9 to 12/24/02), suggesting that his goals are floundering and getting confused, and his power is weakening.
It is at the turn of the year that events could begin to unfold rapidly. The transit of Mars from December 29 - 31 could be the spark that begins the heightened drama. Mars will cross 19 Scorpio at that time, thereby triggering both the Inaugural secondary progressed Mercury conjunct Uranus (19 Aquarius) that runs from August 2002 through February 2003, and the very volatile progressed MC conjunct natal Uranus in Bush’s chart (19Gemini) that runs from October 2002 to November 2003. Transiting Pluto (19 Sagittarius) will also have just gone into one degree orb of opposing the Bush progressed MC/Uranus combination. Uranus being so activated in both Bush’s chart and the Inaugural chart suggests the possibility of rash, precipitate action and sudden, unexpected, and upsetting events. Numerous other progressions and major transits are triggered during January, and to some extent through May 2003, which suggests a period of intense and disturbing events for the administration and the country.
Whether the upcoming constellation of planets in January and beyond is connected to US aggression in Iraq or other circumstances, the indications are that serious difficulties will develop for the administration. The Saturn station that lasts from January through early April 2003, at 22 – 23 Gemini, will significantly impact the charts of Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rove, Rice, and Ridge. This suggests setbacks, obstacles, and burdensome challenges to these men. Cheney’s chart looks particularly difficult, with the Saturn station sitting in a square to his natal Moon. Saturn signifies the need for contraction, discipline, and humility and brings particularly difficult lessons for those who are overextended and arrogant in their approach.
Another indicator of difficulties for Bush in 2003 is the many the transits of Chiron, “the Wounded Healer,” square to Bush’s natal Moon /Chiron conjunction and opposite his Sun. Collectively, these suggest significant painful and wounding experiences during the course of the year, especially from late January through early March and September through mid-December 2003. The Chiron square to natal Moon/Chiron in particular suggests an extremely emotional and upsetting period. The Sun/Chiron aspects indicate grave lessons related to arrogance, overreach, and willful domination.
Those with a strong Pluto influence in their birth chart who tend to manifest the more negative aspects of this planetary energy often are experienced as manipulators or bullies, pressuring and attempting to control those around them with a relentlessness that brooks no opposition. It takes great strength and clear-headedness not to be rendered helpless by the engulfing tidal wave. But, like a rubber band stretched beyond its limit, those pushed and pressured to go beyond their own inclination may snap back painfully upon the wielder.
Related article:
The Power of White House Bullying
Bomb or Bust
