THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: A Cosmic Consideration

When it comes to pundits and predictors, election seasons are like sugar to an ant colony. Since the dawn of politics there has always been an avid and edgy fondness for hearing out the soothsayers, and no shortage of high places from which to dispatch them when their predictions have soured. Indeed, one certainly hopes that in Soothsayer University there are cautionary studies constantly reminding that a swarming interpretation of tealeaves or tracking polls is undertaken at one's own peril.

The preceding is reasonably cited, as it shall now be revealed that what follows is an astrological take on the upcoming presidential election. Assuredly a smarter fortuneteller would wait until February's second week to envision a winner, as by February 6, 2008, more than 50% of the delegates to both the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions will have been selected. Even an astrologer should be smart enough to hedge that bet.

Now so as not to unduly build up suspense, let it immediately be stated that there will be neither prediction nor handicapping of an ultimate winner in this article. There are signs and suspicions, of course, but only a charlatan or a fool would get all certain about such a thing. And, frankly, allowance must be made for a real fear of heights.

What shall be undertaken here, rather, is a consideration of the candidates that is chiefly based upon their astrological sun signs with a few other planetary spices thrown in to flavor the stew. The intent here is not to answer who will win (a sucker's game), but rather to employ the aspect of astrology that garners its appeal from an imitation of psychological profiling. The chief issue here is with each of the chief candidates, in terms of their leadership upon election, what are you likely to get?

Of course, feel free to make a copy of this article and carry it into the polling booth.

Generational Considerations: Pluto Still Has A Vote

Most people's interest in astrology, if they have one at all, stops with a consideration of sun signs. Indeed, most of this article will be directed towards such a consideration. But it is worth taking just a moment to point out that there are a lot of other factors that figure into a well-read horoscope.

Key here is an understanding of Pluto (yes, despite all you have heard, it is still classified as a planet in astronomy, albeit a small one) as a generational values signifier. Because of its long orbital period around the Sun (248 years) Pluto passes relatively slowly through the signs of the zodiac, in the course of its eccentric orbit spending anywhere from twelve to 20-plus years in a single sign. So as not to make this an unwieldy discourse on either astrology or generational demographics, suffice it to say that Pluto's passage from sign to sign squares up quite neatly, for the most part, with our popular understanding of generations: Pluto was in the sign of Cancer during the birth period of the Greatest Generation; in Leo during the births of the Baby Boomers; in Virgo during the advent of Generation X; in Libra during the natal period of Generation Y; and in Scorpio at the births of the Millennials.

Now it is certainly possible, without the use of astrology, to explore an argument regarding the influence that generational values might have on the appeal of a specific presidential candidate. What Pluto adds, however, is the equivalent of a particularly potent hot sauce. Identified iconologically with the development of atomic power, Pluto is representative of a consuming and transformative passion that a generation brings to its own values and, by implication, against the values of other generations (usually the ones immediately before and after) that are not well aligned with one's own.

Thus it becomes useful, at least from an astrological perspective, to identify two factors regarding Pluto for each of the candidates. The first of these is where Pluto appears in the birth horoscope of each candidate, a factor that will indicate an over-arching generational orientation expressing how an individual is likely to conceptually collectivize society. The second factor is how each candidate's Pluto relates to where Pluto is in the sky right now, an indicator of how one's generational orientation may or may not blend with the current broad cultural zeitgeist.

The leading candidates with Pluto in Cancer are: John McCain and Ron Paul.
Pluto in Cancer generations have a strong tribal consciousness and a severely inclusive/exclusive sense of those who belong and those who do not. The keys to their value system are a set of culture-enforcing rules and an active, often militaristic, defense of credo. Their ideology is bound up in community security, chiefly reflected in the development and protection of a stockpile of assets.

The leading candidates with Pluto in Leo are: Michael Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.
Pluto in Leo generations are well-known for their collective sense of personal entitlement, but they are also marked by tremendous willpower and a shared proclivity towards lighting the candle rather than cursing the darkness. There is a collective accommodation to the twists and turns of life's soap opera, with boredom usually being a far greater calamity than experiencing a crisis. Their ideology is bound up in a pursuit of things, both worthy and unworthy, that make them feel good.

The leading candidate with Pluto in Virgo is Barack Obama.
Pluto in Virgo generations tend to be practical and realistic about life's challenges, which finds them collectively ensconced in a worldview that is concurrently fact-based, service-oriented and cynical. There is definite mistrust of big ideas and big personalities in a generation that finds pragmatic solutions to small problems infinitely more valuable than grand hopes about large ones. Their generational ideology is built around factors of "how" rather than "why."
(Note: If it somehow seems that Barack Obama is more aptly described by the Leo description than the Virgo one, then, congratulations, you are starting to learn some astrology. Obama is a sun sign Leo, more on this a little further on.)

In general, one can readily see how a Pluto in Virgo voter (current ages 37 to 50) might more readily be more temperamentally apt to support a Pluto in Cancer (current ages 72 to 86) candidate than one with Pluto in Leo (current ages 51 to 71). What needs to be stressed here, however, is that these broad generational analyses are deeply impacted by the sun sign qualities of the candidates (it is ironic that Obama, for example, is likely to appeal on a personal level to the Pluto in Leo generation more than his own, as well as to the Pluto in Libra generation whose search for optimistic and inclusive solutions is likely to resonate with Obama's charismatic message of change). What is most worth noting, however, is Pluto's placement in the sky right now.

Although they have no candidates in the race, there are three more Pluto generational threads in the current American cultural fabric: Pluto in Libra (current ages 25 to 36); Pluto in Scorpio (current ages14to 24); and Pluto in Sagittarius (current ages 0 to 13). While these generations, especially the older two, are very likely to exert influence in this election, the remarkable thing from an astrological perspective is that the next big shift, Pluto's entrance into Capricorn, is occurring at the very moment you are reading this. And what this means is that this current crop of candidates are running for election at the exact moment of change from a Sagittarian cultural perspective (marked by the virtually unrestricted global intermingling and exchange of people, products and philosophies) to a Capricorn period (likely to be marked by competent and disciplined leadership dedicated to the stewardship of limited resources).

If you've been following along so far, what you get is a period in which a Pluto in Leo value system (which stresses a sort of unrestrained search for personal fulfillment, and is happy in a global Sagittarian culture) is falling out of cultural favor to be replaced by the value orientation of a Pluto in Virgo generation, in which Larry the Cable Guy's "Git-R-Done" is the apex of relevant insight. Now this does not mean that Obama, who as has already been pointed out comes across very much as a Leo, has a particular advantage here. It does, however, mean that the successful candidate is likely to resonate with Capricorn values---which tend towards the capable, the stable, the vested and the conservative---and our analysis of the candidates individual profiles is necessarily informed by this insight.

The Candidates (presented alphabetically)

Candidate: Michael Bloomberg

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Feb 14, 1942 (Aquarius)

Past Aquarius Presidents: William Harrison, Abraham Lincoln; William McKinley, Franklin Roosevelt; Ronald Reagan

Other Notable Aquarius Leaders: Paul Allen; Oprah Winfrey

Aquarius Leadership Characteristics: Aquarians rarely seek leadership because they are enthralled with the trappings of power or because they have a fondness for directing large bureaucracies. More than with any other astrological type there is an authentic calling to serve broad humanitarian goals. Far more future-oriented rather than loyal to history, Aquarians are characterized by sudden brainstorms and idiosyncratic behaviors that more often than not prove to be crowd pleasers. They are leaders who sincerely believe in, and often successfully construct, human progress.

X-Factors: With four planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus) in the sign of Aquarius, Bloomberg is likely to be the candidate who is most tuned into the real needs and desires of the masses at this time. While he is certainly a remote possibility in this election, there would likely be significant popular support for his candidacy given enough time and exposure. (Also note how smart Obama is to have Aquarius Oprah Winfrey on his team, who he has 'jokingly' mentioned as his choice for Vice President)

Candidate: Hillary Clinton

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Oct 26, 1947 (Scorpio)

Past Scorpio Presidents: John Adams, James Polk, James Garfield, Theodore Roosevelt, Warren Harding

Other Notable Scorpio Leaders: Jack Welch, Bill Gates

Scorpio Leadership Characteristics: Teddy Roosevelt's famous quote about speaking softly and carrying a big stick is as germane to the Scorpio leadership style as one can get. These are individuals who see everything on the planet in terms of competition, and they are justifiably legendary for their intensity and indomitable wills. What is most attractive about their leadership is that they select loyal & talented lieutenants, take responsibility, and always play to win. Their belief system is engaged by power.

X-Factors: For those who seek toughness in a candidate, the kind that will make difficult choices and stand up to threats, Clinton may well be tops in the field. Not only is she a Scorpio, but she was born on a day when Pluto (intensity) and Mars (energy) were exactly conjunct to one another and also close to Saturn (responsibility, authority), painting a picture of ferocious will and perhaps, for better or worse, a calling to use it. (Clinton's astrological nature would seem to jibe well with the Pluto in Capricorn era we are entering.)

Candidate: John Edwards

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): June 10, 1953 (Gemini)

Past Gemini Presidents: John Kennedy, George H.W. Bush

Other Notable Gemini Leaders: Armand Hammer, Donald Trump

Gemini Leadership Characteristics: The great virtue of a Gemini leader is the ability, to rise to a moment of collective import and brilliantly capture its significance. The great liability of a Gemini leader is a conditional fluidity of credo that makes bedrock dependability iffy, and the establishment of any sort of cultural consistency a long shot. More than a sign of leadership, Gemini opportunistically tends towards the role of brilliant commentator and the salesman with a great gift of gab. (Please note that there is no intent to denigrate here; but the Pluto in Capricorn era is likely to make talk quite cheap...alas, not a very happy prospect for anyone who makes a living by word crafting.) What a Gemini leader seems most often hungry for, and is sometimes denied, is real respect from serious sources.

X-Factors: Edwards has four planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter) in Gemini, indicating an individual who is very fast on his feet and who can easily be appreciated for his gifts as a quick-thinking trial attorney and stump politician. While, as already indicated, these are not likely the qualities being sought by the electorate right now, it must in fairness be noted that Edwards also has Venus in Taurus (indicating solid values and a heart that is true) and Mercury in Cancer (a mind that is always thinking about family).

Candidate: Rudy Giuliani

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): May 28, 1944 (Gemini)

Past Gemini Presidents: John Kennedy, George H.W. Bush

Other Notable Gemini Leaders: Armand Hammer, Donald Trump

Gemini Leadership Characteristics: (please see John Edwards, above)

X-Factors: Four planets in Leo (Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto) yield a personality with enormous charismatic appeal. Add to this the almost exact conjunction of the Sun and Uranus in Gemini, and one has an individual who knows how to engage crowds both as an authority and a friend. So there is plenty of star power available to Giuliani, but today's voters seem more than ever inclined to ask "where's the beef?

Candidate: Mike Huckabee

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Aug 24, 1955 (Virgo)

Past Virgo Presidents: William Taft, Lyndon Johnson

Other Notable Virgo Leaders: (Colonel) Harland Sanders; Warren Buffett

Virgo Leadership Characteristics: There is much to admire in Virgo leadership, particularly its insistence upon diligence, precision, economy, focused effort, purity of purpose, common sense, and measurable results. Virgo leaders tend to see organizations in terms of well-engineered systems, and glory is mostly derived from successfully cranking out the necessary widgets rather than through the exaltation of personality. The seriousness of outlook is well suited to the nascent Pluto in Capricorn era, but one may also duly note that Virgo tends to be nearsighted when it comes to broad concepts and has a real hard time wrestling with complex ponderables that are an impediment to order, efficiency, and the matter at hand. In truth, they often tend to be general managers and vice presidents without parallel, and revel in the approval of a big picture boss.

X-Factors: Mike Huckabee is another candidate with four planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto) in the sign of Leo, indicating a very charismatic individual with a lot of warm human appeal. Also extremely interesting, though, are his Moon (emotional nature) and Saturn (authority inclinations) in Scorpio that speak to a submerged intensity of feeling and an impulse to control that are belied by the sunnier aspects of his personality. It's an attractive package that actually projects quite a lot of strength, but there is also a mixing of solar power and dynamite here that bears some scrutiny.

Candidate: John McCain

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): August 29, 1936 (Virgo)

Past Virgo Presidents: William Taft, Lyndon Johnson

Other Notable Virgo Leaders: (Colonel) Harland Sanders; Warren Buffett

Virgo Leadership Characteristics: (please see Mike Huckabee, above). It is certainly interesting that two of the leading Republican candidates are Virgos, which is fairly characterized as the most sober and punctilious of all signs, attractive qualities to a Pluto in Virgo generation, and Pluto in Capricorn times.

X-Factors: An appealing aspect in the astrological chart of John McCain is a trine from his Virgo Sun (the basic personality) to the planet Uranus (unique perception) in Taurus. This trine is a signature for healthy individualism, and is made even more appealing to the masses by its appearance in the generally sober element of earth. Clearly, "earthy individualist" is not a bad description of McCain. McCain's chart lacks some of the more energetic configurations of the other candidates' charts, but this is an election in which tortoises are likely to outflank hares so this is definitely a candidacy too early to call.

Candidate: Barack Obama

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): August 4, 1961 (Leo)

Past Leo Presidents: Benjamin Harrison, Herbert Hoover, Bill Clinton

Other Notable Leo Leaders: Martha Stewart, Mark Cuban

Leo Leadership Characteristics: First, it has to be noted with at least a drop of amusement that Barack Obama and Bill Clinton share the same astrological sign. Of course, such news is instructive as well as diverting. There are some obvious similarities to the two men (besides sparring with Hillary) and, indeed, either might be considered a prize specimen of the Leo leadership type. Here is the individual who is self-coronated at the center of the things, using little but a kind of charismatic radiation and a strong gravitational personality pull to set all things in their place and all matters to right. Suffice it to say that when Obama announced that he wasn't particularly into the operational details of government but would function more as cheerleader-in-chief, every astrologer on the planet exclaimed "what a Leo!" Heck, it sort of worked for Bill; if not so well for Herbert

X-Factors: Two aspects in Obama's astrological chart clamor for attention. First, there is a trine (easy energy flow) from Obama's Mars (energy, initiative) in Virgo (practicality) to his Saturn (managerial capabilities) in Capricorn (authority). This is a wonderful indicator of someone who is capable of taking responsible, common sense action, fully vested with purpose and strategic intelligence. This is a quality likely to have great appeal in a Capricorn in Pluto age. Also noteworthy, though, is Obama's Mercury (thinking) in Leo (self-importance) in direct opposition to his Jupiter (understanding) in Aquarius (public interest). Here is someone capable of believing he instinctively knows what is good for everyone, but who may face considerable resistance regarding lack of factual substantiation and valid collective insight when push comes to shove.

Candidate: Ron Paul

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Aug 20, 1935 (Leo)

Past Leo Presidents: Benjamin Harrison, Herbert Hoover, Bill Clinton

Other Notable Leo Leaders: Martha Stewart, Mark Cuban

Leo Leadership Characteristics: (please see Barack Obama, above)

X-Factors: Having already veered too far into astrological jargon, an effort will be made to be more moderate here. The Achilles heel of Ron Paul's chart, especially as a politician, is that he has the astrological signature (Mercury in opposition to Saturn) of someone who holds a fair amount of contempt, and an inelegant penchant for expressing it, towards people who are perceived as not on board with the program. The result is a projected defensiveness that can be perceived as rather shrill by those who are just trying to understand. The intensity of this state of affairs is highly amped by Paul's Jupiter conjunct Mars in Scorpio, a heavenly happenstance conveying great personal courage and confidence, but also feeling too much like a constant challenge to others when the words get in the way.

Candidate: Mitt Romney

Date of Birth (Sun Sign): March 12, 1947 (Pisces)

Past Pisces Presidents: George Washington, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Grover Cleveland

Other Notable Pisces Leaders: Phil Knight, Steven Jobs

Pisces Leadership Characteristics: The gift of the Pisces leader is transcendent empathy. These are people who know not just exactly how you feel; they know how everyone feels. They are tuning rods for the cultural zeitgeist and on their best days are capable of the most amazing epiphanies of collective consciousness and socially progressive adaptation. The downside, as you might expect, is that to a real extent our culture is contentious, chaotic, and fiercely resistant to conceptual unification. This breeds much confusion in the Pisces spirit, so that meaning and message tend to become inconsistent. There is much desire here to create an oceanic embrace, but one must first filter a whole lot of sediment.

X-Factors: With three personal planets (Sun, Mercury, Mars) in Pisces, Romney might tend to see himself as a romantic poet doing battle with prosaic politicians. With Venus in Aquarius he is also likely to have the affairs of his fellow citizens sincerely at heart. What cannot be overlooked, though, are his Moon and Jupiter in Scorpio, a combination that would tend to make him very emotional and ruthlessly competitive. While clearly a most intelligent man, this is an individual who is most apt to be led by his heart rather than his head. Let it be noted, however, that if he manages to find a unifying vision and express it with clarity, he might be greatly prized by the Pluto in Capricorn age.

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