We have just witnessed the stupendous blockbuster hit, Terminator IV, a riveting and suspenseful tale merging the ever-popular superhero genre with reality TV. In this extraordinary story, the glamorous Robotic King of the Befuddling Sound Bite swept into the post-bubble wasteland of a besieged California and single-handedly terminated the corrupt and sinister Gray Politician who had ravaged the land. The audience, well trained by decades of immersion in cinematic experience, was able to suspend all rational thought and delve into the simple and refreshing plot line, in which the mere presence of the dazzling heroic powerhouse could invigorate and galvanize the destitute terrain.
Unfortunately for 21st Century Americans, life doesn't precisely imitate art. Reality is far more nuanced and complicated than a two-hour thriller, and a robust democracy demands a well-informed and intelligent electorate. With each passing election, however, we see glitz and illusion increasing its triumph over substance and rationality. With the ever-expanding hold of the visual media on our imaginations, the candidate who is the most viscerally appealing and whose sound bites best fire the imagination of the masses tends to win the day, despite his or her past actions, policies, and statements. The media plays its own enormous part in manipulating perceptions - by which stories they pursue and which they ignore, by who gets the most air time, and by the acclaim or criticism they subtly (or not so subtly) infuse into their reporting. More often than not, they follow the best story line, with news rapidly metamorphosing into entertainment. Even worse, they are often guilty of supporting the candidates whose policies are compatible with those of their corporate owners. It is hard to imagine a more dire situation for the future of democracy.
With the victory of Arnold Schwarzenegger, we may have witnessed the perfection of the stealth candidate. Due to his moderate stances on most social policies - abortion, gay rights, etc. - many Democrats felt it would be safe to elect him to office. Religious fundamentalism has so colored the Republican image in recent years that many ignored the lurking dangers of the Governator's economic conservatism - policies that were barely whispered during the campaign. Already, Arnold has expressed that he will be
deregulating the California energy industry and settling the pending lawsuit with the energy companies that robbed California of $9 billion a few years back. Holding out for the full amount had been a Gray Davis priority. Arnold's plan, on the other hand, will redeem only a much smaller sum for the ripped-off taxpayers of California, but it will make the Bush administration and the energy companies very happy.
The rumblings surrounding the political earthquake of Arnold's recent conquest currently run the gamut from Orrin Hatch's fantasy of changing the constitution, so the Austrian-born Arnold can run for President, to liberal Californians planning the next recall. Many are predicting big trouble for the Terminator when he has to get down to real governing and away from his adoring crowds, which have often seemed the primary goal of his political career. There is also the niggling question of the many accusations of groping that swirled around the final days of the campaign. Will Arnold be taken to court to face charges of sexual battery? Will yet more women come out of hiding and join in a rising din of indignation, demanding justice?
According to planetary indications, we can expect Arnold to maintain his current level of popularity and "honeymoon status"' through January 2004, and to only a slightly lesser extent through May 2004. The relevant aspects are: progressed Jupiter trine the natal Midheaven, culminating by late December 2003; progressed Venus sextile natal Sun, culminating by mid-December 2003; progressed Mars conjunct natal Venus culminating in May 2004; and progressed Moon conjunct natal Venus, waxing through all of January 2004.
In addition, some very aggressive action is likely from the new governor during the first pass of Pluto in opposition to his Mars, from November 26 through December 22, 2003. Due to Mars' natal position in his 12th House, we may also see some sharp back-room dealings and some behind the scene opposition attempting to subvert his efforts. But the primary feeling will be that the new Governor is enacting an all-out offensive to push his agenda. This trend continues to some degree through most of 2004, with increasing intensity beginning again in June and continuing through mid-October 2004, as Pluto returns to a one-degree orb and makes a station opposing Mars.
One difficulty Arnold may encounter during his early months in office is the derailing of his rock solid opinions about finance and how to proceed in this area. In his chart, we find a second house Saturn /Pluto conjunction, indicating someone who has very shrewd ideas about money, is conservative, grasping, and somewhat inflexible. The current Neptune station opposes this Saturn and will turn direct on October 23, bringing confusion and an uncomfortable lack of grounding to the normally stodgy and rigid sense of economic reality of the Governator, impacting him through December 2003.
January 2004 will be a particularly strong month for Arnold due to progressed Moon conjunct natal first house Venus, which, in turn, is conjunct progressed Mars. I anticipate adoring crowds and lots of accolades at this time. This may well be the high point of a soon-to-be-beleaguered reign. Once the Mars progression conjunct that very attractive first house Venus begins to wane after May 2004, California's new Republican governor will begin to be vulnerable. As the glamour of the Venus energies dissipates, the harsh reality of Saturn will begin slowly to take hold.
July 2004 is the beginning of a very difficult two-year period for the Gropenfuhrer. He will attempt to wield power quite vigorously and, at times, contentiously, but he will encounter increasing obstacles and a growing lack of popularity. Saturn will cross both his Ascendant and Mercury in July 2004, bringing some struggles and some unresolvable and frustrating issues. Simultaneously, Pluto will be opposing his natal Mars, so his response is likely to be quite belligerent, though devoid of his usual charm. The real difficulties begin in September 2004 and continue through July 2006. Transiting Saturn will be conjunct Arnold's natal first house Venus, the source of his striking personal appeal, from September 2004 through May 2005. His much-vaunted popularity will reach a low point during this time. If there is a recall election or a court case during these months, it will not go well for the governor.
The transit of Saturn to natal Venus is then followed by a 10-month transit of Saturn to natal Sun, from August 2005 through May 2006, also likely to bring tremendous frustration and extremely difficult problems that are not easily managed. Financial troubles in California could be quite extreme since the Sun rules Arnold's second house. Overlapping the Saturn transit to the Sun will be a Saturn transit square to Arnold's Sacramento location chart Midheaven (10 Scorpio) from October 2005 through July 2006. This suggests challenges to his reputation and increasingly difficult career issues.
If Arnold runs for Governor again in 2006, it is not at all clear that he would win. There are no strong Venus aspects to confer an aura of appeal and charisma. It may well be that the Governator will be recalled during the long Saturn period coming between mid 2004 and mid 2006, or he may be run out of town for his long string of past sexual predations. No longer blinded by Arnold's photogenic celebrity after May 2004, Californians may choose to terminate his contract.
