Just as the barren trees, the plummeting temperatures, and the forecast of snow tell of the coming of winter, so too do the bitter winds of international noncooperation and an avalanche of smothering deficit point to a waning of American influence and power. In perhaps the greatest irony of the dysfunctional Bush administration, militaristic and thuggish policies meant to ensure American hegemony for decades to come, have instead led to an unwinnable quagmire that is depleting our resources, as well as our global influence, while increasing the number of our enemies. In addition, fiscal policies of reckless irresponsibility have so weakened the dollar that fears abound of significantly higher interest rates to stem the growing flow of foreign investment out of the country. Many wonder how much longer the dollar will be able to remain the world’s leading currency if the rudderless Bush economic policies do not make a dramatic course correction. In brazenly reaching for the stars, those running the US government have instead fallen off the mountain and are bringing us along for the ride.
In this twilight time between terms, there remains the familiar tone-deaf swagger of the last four years mingled with a foreshadowing of the storm clouds to come. While George Bush gloatingly tells of the earned political capital he intends to spend doing what he will, the formidable Republican monolith of recent years is beginning to fragment around a number of issues. Strong criticism of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and suggestions that he retire are coming from numerous corners of the Republican camp. In addition, Senator Lindsey Graham is putting forth a plan to raise the cap on payroll taxes to pay for a future Social Security deficit, in spite of Bush’s firm opposition. On another matter, Senator Charles Grassley wants to establish a commission to investigate government oversight (such as it is) of the pharmaceutical industry, an untouchable part of the rat pack of Bush’s corporate cronies. Meanwhile, just across the border to the north, Canada has steadfastly refused to participate in Bush’s missile defense scheme, which itself has recently failed its first flight test in two years.
Far more ominous, however, are the twin themes of a weakening dollar and an unprecedented loss of international prestige and American influence. Due to Neptune’s continuing presence quincunx Bush’s Sun (through December 2004), Neptune’s coming square to Inaugural Midheaven (January 2005), and Jupiter’s crossing of Bush’s Moon/Jupiter conjunction (mid-December to mid-March), our president remains in denial and under the delusion that all will be well if he says it is so, although these increasingly significant issues are only likely to grow and fester. While Neptune flavors the administration’s antics with a certain bewildered incompetence, Jupiter is obscuring the growing difficulties in a swirl of optimism, celebration, and exuberance. Nonetheless, the transit of Saturn across US Mercury is about to begin its second pass (12/28 through 1/10/05) and will continue in effect until its final crossing in late May 2005. This transit seems to be exerting a strong contracting influence on US currency and the foreign investment that currently supports the US deficit.
In the US chart, the progression of Venus, ruler of the Midheaven, will be square to natal Saturn from February 2005 through early January 2006, suggesting a significant and stressful diminishment of American international influence, decreasing popularity abroad, and a corresponding difficulty in pursuing goals and consolidating leadership. During this same period, our new Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, will have transiting Neptune on her Mars, suggesting she will be largely ineffectual in developing coherent and practical strategies for dealing with major issues. In fact, during her entire term, with the exception of the first nine months of 2006, Rice will have an exceptionally difficult time, with first Neptune crossing her Mars in 2005, and then Saturn and later Neptune squaring her Midheaven/Sun/Venus conjunction between September 2006 and December 2008. It is very doubtful she will be remembered for effective and strong leadership under these aspects.
In a recent article, I described the strong Saturn influence, found in both Bush’s chart and the 2005 Inaugural chart, that indicates the many obstacles and frustrations likely to confront the second Bush term. In another article, I discussed the Chironian concept of wounding that is a major theme in the coming Inaugural chart and indicates some kind of weakened or crippled presidency that will struggle mightily to achieve any of its goals. Still further evidence of a beleaguered second Bush administration shows up in the chart of Vice President Dick Cheney, where we find an unusually strong impact from a series of Saturn stations, the first of which begins right after the Inauguration. From late January through April 2005, Saturn will be opposite Cheney’s Venus, the ruler of his Midheaven. This suggests a period of goals thwarted, loss of popularity, and additional burden and grief. It is possible that the scandal light will shine once again on the VP’s office or the neoconservative Iraqi adventure will sour due to the outcome of the election. But whatever the circumstances, Cheney will feel a diminishment in his popularity and reputation and an unwelcome and burdensome situation surrounding him.
By year’s end, Saturn will again tighten its noose around Cheney, crossing square to his Jupiter and Saturn and then opposite his Sun and back again, covering roughly from September 2005 through January 2006. The mid-October through mid-December period is likely to be the most difficult, during the station opposite his Sun. With natal Jupiter and Saturn in his ninth house, Cheney may be involved in some fierce ideological battles during this time, including the possibility of a battle over a Supreme Court nomination. While Saturn opposes his Sun (mid-October to mid December), he may feel forced to compromise or feel his plans blocked in some way, or he may have some health issues to contend with due to his natal 6th house Sun placement. Then in late 2006, the Saturn station will oppose Cheney’s Mercury, and in 2008, it will conjunct his Ascendant for several months. These also suggest difficult times with significant burdens and frustrations.
At present, the US progressed Moon is square to natal Saturn and the people (the Moon) are feeling a sense of growing sorrow over the war. This particular progression goes through mid-January 2005 and, unfortunately, may be accompanied by a series of painful events such as the horrific explosion at a US base camp in Iraq recently. This aspect may be activated December 22 – 25, 2004, December 30 -31, 2004, and again January 3 – 5, 2005, but the entire period from mid-December through mid-January will be vulnerable to a collective feeling of sorrow and related events.
A longer range look at the US chart suggests that over the next several years, there may be a decided shift away from the current militaristic mid-set. At present, the US progressed Midheaven is exactly quincunx progressed US progressed Mars (18libra41), which is now stationary and will be moving retrograde very slowly from 2007 onward. The Midheaven/Mars contact has intensified the military focus in the past year, but will slowly wane after February 2005. It will, however, be substantially activated by the Jupiter station in January 2005, which will be exactly conjunct US progressed Mars (and Bush’s Jupiter), suggesting expanded military activity and some increasing optimism during that time.
Perhaps more interesting, and more significant for the longer term, is the stationary and then retrograde movement of progressed Mars. The station suggests a kind of stuckness to our military activity, neither moving forward nor backward. Our current quagmire in Iraq, where we are mired up to our eyeballs, is a case in point. As the retrograde movement gains momentum in 2007 and beyond, it may be that the US becomes increasingly unwilling to jump into military adventures, tending to demur for long periods before acting (retrograde Mars, especially in Libra). Very strong transits to US natal Mars notwithstanding, such as the Uranus transit of 2008, the US may have a welcome relapse of the Vietnam Syndrome, and be very hesitant to thrust itself aggressively into world affairs without a very clear, compelling reason, as well as significant international support (Libra).
For the moment, Bush enters his second term dragged down by the albatross of Iraq, cripplingly coupled with a staggering deficit, both of his own making. It is probable that these will hamper his grandiose schemes for the foreseeable future. Despite his great “victory” in the recent election, Bush is likely to seem increasingly beleaguered and oppressed by the consequences of his own mistakes. The details are yet to be written, but the mood is more somber and less surefooted than in the ride ‘em cowboy days of times past.
