NewsScope for May 27, 2003

Bush versus Clinton?

Last week President Bush geared up his 2004 re-election campaign by asking for campaign contributions and clearing his cabinet of weary advisors, including spokesman Ari Fleischer and EPA chief Christy Whitman. Political analysts expect Bush to rake in some $200 million for the GOP primaries, twice the record he set of $100 million in 2000.

George W. Bush's horoscope (July 6, 1946; 7:26 am; New Haven, CT) resonates strongly now with the U.S. horoscope, he is and will be a powerful channel for the nation's leadership needs. Bush's progressed Sun is conjunct his Mars, a dominant theme over the coming year relating to military events since transiting Pluto opposes the U.S. Mars. Also, since the U.S. progressed Midheaven entered Aries shortly after the 9-11 incident, the nation seeks a more assertive Commander-in-Chief.

In 2004 the U.S. horoscope reveals an unusual amount of Venus activity as well, bringing a counterpoint to the Mars vibration. Transiting Uranus is forming a trine to Venus now, and turns retrograde on June 8, the same day that Hillary Clinton (October 26, 1947; 8:00 pm; Chicago) is interviewed by Barbara Walters. Uranus happens to form a precise trine to Ms. Clinton's Scorpio Sun at the same time.

Uranus will return to trine Venus in 2004, likely bringing Clinton forward as a possible presidential candidate. Expanding the likelihood of a powerful feminine voice in America's 2004 election year are two major progressions involving Venus (progressed Venus square U.S. Sun; progressed U.S. Midheaven square Venus). Will Hillary run? Her own chart is dramatically poised to accept the challenge.

Media Buyouts, the Next Wave

The FCC is now considering dismantling the last rules that prevent media giants from gobbling up smaller competitors, a decision that would further concentrate television and newspaper ownership into the hands of a few moguls. Last week, conservative and liberal pundits* alike warned that no other Washington decision will more directly affect how Americans are informed, persuaded, and entertained.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) was created on June 19, 1934 to oversee the airwaves. A horoscope for this agency (noon, Washington DC) reflects its mandate with the Sun in the communications sign of Gemini stabilized by a trine to corporate Saturn in the networking sign of Aquarius. Pluto in this chart, representing mass media and monopolistic tendencies, is conjunct Mercury, the communications planet.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell (son of Colin) and the Bush administration want to move the process forward as quickly as possible. However, as transiting Saturn has been conjunct the FCC Sun, pressure mounted to make the secret meetings more public. On June 2 the FCC Commission will vote whether or not to open the discussion to the American public.

Transiting Jupiter and Neptune are now opposing each other, an aspect that becomes exact on June 2. This transit connects closely with the FCC chart, pointing to the historical decision under consideration. In the long term, transiting Saturn and Uranus are favorably aligning with the FCC Sun-Saturn, indicating the likelihood is that the corporate giants will get their way. From this development we can expect the next wave of hostile media takeovers in the coming year, as transiting Pluto opposes the U.S. Mars in Gemini, located in the Eighth House of corporations.

LeBron James, Nike and the NBA

Following a heated bidding war between sneaker rivals, high school basketball phenomenon LeBron James signed a $90 million, multi-year contract with Nike last week. The next day he was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the number one draft pick in the NBA lottery, and signed for an additional $10 million. Michael Jordan received only $2.5 million at his 1984 debut.

LeBron James was born a business-savvy Capricorn (December 30, 1984; Akron, OH; time unknown), the same day as Tiger Woods, but nine years later. Like Tiger, LeBron has a powerfully competitive spirit fostered by Mars trine Pluto. LeBron's Mars also squares Chiron, giving him a feeling of being the wounded warrior, and the compensating desire to be a champion at all costs.

LeBron's quickness and creative moves while hovering in mid-air may be attributed to his Mercury-Uranus conjunction. Physical strength is supplied by Mars, but the best players must have a good court sense, and this Mercury-Uranus combination (boosted by a trine to the assertive Aries Moon) provides the intuitive talent. As the NBA draft report stated, “He has that uncanny court vision and knack for seeing plays develop before they occur."

What accounts for his multi-millionaire status? An accurate birth time would fill in the details, but LeBron's progressed Sun is now conjunct the U.S. Pluto, providing a rare opportunity to fulfill the American dream. (Pluto is the god of wealth.) Natally, his Venus forms an exact square to Saturn, a difficult combination giving one a feeling of being judged, as in a beauty contest. In his case, he used that critical eye to become the winner that he is.

*For more information see Bill Moyers' comments or William Safire's column.

Online classes and personal readings are available from Michael WolfStar.