I think it
was Dennis
Miller who first joked about Gush and Bore. This clever
little play on words mirrors the public's perception of the two presidential
candidates. Gore
fought hard and may have finally overcome the popular belief that he is
a bore, but it took a passionate kiss in front of millions to do it. Bush
is saddled with his ties to the petro-chemical industry, but ironically,
he was a failure as an oilman and his one big gusher never really did
materialize.
Not only
do the candidates have to battle their own public image and each other’s
characterizations, they must also fight the increasingly prevailing view
that there is very little difference between the two major parties. For
many voters, these candidates are interchangeable. What do their horoscopes
tell us about their similarities and their differences and how do they
relate to each other?
Natural
Competitors
 Al
Gore is a fiery Aries, while George W. Bush is a watery Cancer. Their
Suns are in a square aspect to each other, making theirs a battle of egos—there
is no win-win here, only win-lose. Gore couldn’t help but remind us in
his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination that he will “fight”
for us. A fighting spirit is one of the signatures of Mars-ruled Aries.
Bush, as a Cancer, is naturally more emotional and is also very likely
to fight for what he considers to be his. Cancers, ruled by the Moon,
are protective of home, family and country. They tend to be conservative,
and we could even call them compassionate conservatives.
Interestingly
enough, both Bush and Gore have the planet Neptune aspecting their Sun.
My earlier article on Gore
delves quite deeply into this dynamic in his chart. As
for Bush, his battle with alcoholism and drug addiction (Neptune) is public
record, as are drunken confrontations with his father (Sun square Neptune).
Bush has handled this deftly by admitting to youthful indiscretions that
were part of his past and affirming that they are not a part of his present.
Bush’s Sun
in the Twelfth House adds an air of secrecy to his nature and is indicative
of a person who is generally more comfortable behind the scenes and who
may be his own worst enemy. Most who know Bush are surprised that he is
running for president. His lifelong ambition was to be the Commissioner
of Baseball. And, it is said, that he is running for president in order
to avenge his father’s loss to Clinton. If this is true, it is pretty
typical of a Twelfth House Sun who can be easily manipulated as well as
easily manipulate others.
Many fear
that Bush will lead us into environmental disaster because of his close
connection to the oil industry. Contrast this with Gore’s Sun in the Ninth
House, a placement that is innately more suited to politics, foreign affairs,
the law and philosophy. Gore, who has spent his entire life in public
service, has been a champion of environmental protection for many years.
A
Lack of Understanding
Gore’s Moon
in Capricorn could not be more different emotionally than Bush’s
Libra Moon. The Capricorn Moon person can be cold and austere, while the Libra
Moon person is naturally social and gracious. The Capricorn Moon tends
to be ambitious, actively seeking both power and money, while the Libra
Moon may be so invested in seeking approval from others that they are
easily led. Each candidate’s Neptune aspects the other’s Moon, indicating
that they are not at all on the same emotional wavelength.
It is fascinating
to note that both men have Moon-Jupiter conjunctions, indicating strong
and beneficial relationships with women, especially the mother. Each man
has been blessed with a long and successful marriage. Bush and Gore are
both well equipped to go after the women’s vote that is so crucial to
the outcome of this election. And with Jupiter, the planet of luck, so
prominent, each has been born into a life of relative ease—they are both
truly “fortunate sons.”
Something
in Common
While the
two candidates have their Suns and Moons in signs that are square to each
other, they both have the warm and charismatic sign of Leo rising. Though
they have the Ascendant sign in common, Gore’s placement of
Mars, Saturn and Pluto in Leo serves to enhance his serious demeanor, while Bush’s
Mercury, Venus and Pluto there tend to add to his charm and affability.
These two
men are remarkably similar, yet could not be more different. It’s a choice
between charm and grace versus earnest intellect. Clearly, they both desperately
want to win the presidency. But, ultimately, the voters will decide which
one of these fortunate sons will have the task of leading our country
into the new millennium.
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