The Election Debacle is being dissected from all fronts, with many either assigning blame or rationalizing the results. The greatest consensus seems to be that the Democratic leadership has been essentially AWOL, leaving in its place a Republican-lite robot. Uninspired by the lack of a passionate program on their behalf, many voters consequently remained home on Election Day. Other pundits have focused on the continuing dark shadow of national security, opportunistically played by the Republicans, and eclipsing all other issues. George Bush, of course, thinks that his radical right-wing and warmongering agenda has been given a huge mandate, and that his superior Republican candidates simply succeeded through an honest and positive campaign. Self-delusion was always one of his strong suits. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that we lost, if only by a few thousand votes, and George Bush now has the keys to the Ferrari and an open road, with no cops in sight.
Currently under the progression of Venus (24 Libra) to his IC and opposing his Midheaven (24 Aries), Mr.Bush is maintaining a certain level of popularity and good fortune. Although this progression will wax until April 2003, it has been receiving an extra energizing in the past few months from tertiary progressed Uranus (24 Gemini) and converse progressed Moon (24 Virgo). In addition, the Jupiter station of November and early December is sextile his natal Jupiter. These combine, as we have seen, to create an astonishing amount of benefit for Mr. Bush in the form of his party’s success in reclaiming Congress and the passage of his Iraq resolution at the UN.
So that we are not under any illusions, Mr. Bush will continue a certain diminished measure of popularity after April 2003, though considerably less than the current phase, due to a progressed Venus Jupiter conjunction (25 Libra), which carries him until August 2004. At that time, however, both progressed planets move into a square with natal Saturn (26 Cancer) while waning in their contact with each other. In addition, it is at about this time that transiting Saturn returns to its natal position, also squaring the progressed Venus and progressed Jupiter. In other words, we may look for a rapid decline in Bush’s popularity around August 2004, increasing thereafter. The good news here is that this coincides with the next presidential campaign, election, and Inauguration.
I am not suggesting that there will be smooth sailing for Mr. Bush until the summer of 2004. There are several aspects that will cause tremendous stress and difficulty for him and huge pockets of discontent from a large, disgruntled minority. But I think it is better to know up front that there will be some significant support and popularity for the current occupant of the White House, so that we are not discouraged when confronted with it time and again. Much of this will change by September 2004.
The most consequential counter to Bush’s continued support from voters is the expanding Saturn influence on the US Sun over the next year and a half. Historically, these contacts bring with them difficult times for the country and its Chief Executive, adding burdens and, frequently, economic troubles. The last time Saturn crossed the US Sun, August 1974 – April 1975, Nixon resigned over Watergate allegations and a threatened impeachment. The time before that was a one-time crossing (less potent) in June 1945, as World War ll was drawing to a close, amidst great devastation and loss of life. The coming Saturn transit to the US Sun (13 Cancer) will run from October 2003 through June 2004, being strongest during those two months. Concurrently, there will be a tertiary progression of Saturn in the US chart (13 Capricorn) opposite the Sun (13 Cancer), from February 2003 through October 2003, soon followed by tertiary Saturn square US Saturn (14 Libra) until November 2004. Thus, beginning its buildup slowly in February 2003 and continuing until November 2004, there will be a feeling of burden and difficulty in the country, a feeling of things not going well, goals frustrated, and humbling experiences. It is quite possible the economy will go through an exceptionally problematic time and that America’s preeminence and prestige in the world will falter. Since the Sun in the US chart is the symbol of the Chief Executive, these difficulties will directly reflect on Mr. Bush.
Currently, the Commander-in-Chief is in a phase of aggressively pursuing his radical agenda, unconcerned (now more than ever) about the dissenting clamor from many fronts. This continues at least until November 2003. Two very significant progressions are involved in this unilateral process. Inaugural Uranus is highlighted by a conjunction from secondary progressed Mercury, from August 2002 through early February 2003 and further intensified by tertiary progressed MC, coming into conjunction with natal Uranus/progressed Mercury from early November through mid-December 2002. Some significant brakes, however, will briefly be put on this energy, from late November through December 2002. This derives from Inaugural tertiary progressed Sun and tertiary progressed Mercury both in square to natal Saturn. Possible sources of what forces Bush to temporarily slow down his hyper-charged engine include the UN resolution’s timetable, Saddam’s cooperation, and/or the Lame Duck Democrats in the Senate (one can hope).
The other progression of consequence that implies Mr.Bush will become increasingly relentless and aggressive in manifesting his objectives is the progression of his MC to natal Uranus, from October 2002 through November 2003. The Pluto transit opposite this progression for much of 2003 adds the potential for over-zealous, obsessive, and possibly fanatical determination (Pluto) to an already stressful, intense, and unilateral energy (Uranus). Sudden crises are also possible. This triggering Pluto transit will be especially strong: December 30, 2002, through January 27, 2003; April 15 to May 21, 2003; and most of November 2003. Mr. Bush will be under tremendous stress during these periods and may exhibit severe emotional strain and irritability.
In addition to the Uranian energy mentioned above, which adds a relentless unilateral push to the administration, Bush’s progressed Sun will reach a conjunction to his natal Mars in June 2003 and continue waxing within one-degree orb into June 2004. Joining this Sun/Mars combination around September 2003, but continuing all the way to September 2005, is Bush’s converse progressed Mars conjunct his Ascendant. This is an extraordinary combination of aggressive, irritable, impatient, determined, and likely militaristic energy.
September through November 2003 is likely to be especially dramatic, given that several of the above-mentioned planetary aspects intersect during this period, which may prove a significant turning point towards greater difficulty. We can expect unilateral, fanatical determination from Bush and possible sudden upsets and crises (the peak of the progressed MC/natal Uranus with a transit of Pluto opposed); difficulties, burdens, problems (the Saturn station on the US Sun); and extreme aggression and likely military activity (Bush’s progressed Sun/Mars and Mars/Ascendant). Clearly, major events, a potential crisis for Bush, and possible military confrontations will occur during that three-month period that may not bode well for the United States.
It seems evident that the newly minted Republican domination of Congress, which is likely to exercise no restraint on the agenda of the neocon White House, will enable Bush to become even more aggressive and overbearing on the world stage than he already has been. In juxtaposition to this, we find the increasing influence of Saturn in the US chart and Mr. Bush’s chart through later 2003 and 2004. This suggests that Bush’s reckless actions will eventually create problematic consequences for the country and lead to the defeat of the Bush administration in 2004. Saturn demands prudence, caution, restraint, and discipline. It demands the compromises necessary to live in a community - in this case, the community of nations. When its demands are not met, the resulting overreach and arrogance generally end in failure.
