NewsScope for May 8, 2007

GOP Candidates Debate Evolution

One of the most interesting questions posed to the ten declared Republican presidential candidates last Thursday was whether they believe in evolution. Three candidates said they do not—Sam Brownbeck, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo. In their view, accepting the theories of Darwinian evolution would undercut their religious faith and embrace a materialist worldview that allows such abhorrent practices as abortion and stem-cell research.

From the astrological perspective, the United States is a curious blend of religious fundamentalism and scientific leadership. With its Sun* in the Ninth House of religion and conjunct Jupiter, the planet of religion, elected U.S. presidents have always had a strong sense of religious or moral authority. However, with the Moon in Aquarius and a prominent Uranus, science and technology are key drivers to a robust economy.

As Richard Tarnas so eloquently described in Cosmos and Psyche, religious conservatism and scientific breakthroughs come in recognizable cycles. The Jupiter-Uranus cycle always brings revolutionary advances in science, including Darwin's The Origin of Species in 1858 under the auspices of a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction. Darwin hatched his ideas when visiting the Galapagos Islands in 1831 during a previous Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.

Religious conservatism (i.e., creationism) and conservative policies in general take hold under Saturn-Pluto cycles. Ronald Reagan became the founding icon of modern conservatism when he was elected in 1980 under a Saturn-Pluto conjunction. In January 2008 when the major primaries begin, Pluto enters Capricorn (Saturn's sign), ushering in a celestial undercurrent that favors a more conservative approach to politics.

Rupert Murdoch Wooing Wall Street Journal

Last week, international media tycoon Rupert Murdoch made an unsolicited offer to buy The Wall Street Journal for $60/share, a whopping 67 percent premium over what was then the current trading price. He said he made the offer "to get the owners' attention." The owners are the Bancroft family which has controlled the world's most prestigious financial newspaper for the last 92 years.

Murdoch was born with his Pisces Sun (March 11, 1931; 11:55 pm; Melbourne, Australia) trine Pluto in the Seventh House of partners, giving him the ability to attract, fascinate, and transform other people's lives. His father died on October 12, 1952 as transiting Uranus was exactly conjunct Rupert's natal Pluto, at which time he inherited his first indebted, broken-down newspaper, but soon transformed it into a roaring success.

Murdoch's Sun is also sextile conservative Saturn, and with the workaholic asteroid Vesta conjunct his Capricorn Rising, he is all business. Another well-placed asteroid, Pallas, is conjunct his Neptune and placed in the Ninth House of publishing. The Pallas-Neptune combination bestows unusual insights, often of a political nature, but especially attuned to publishing opportunities. As Murdoch bids for the WSJ, his progressed Sun is forming a square to his Pallas-Neptune.

Will he succeed in taking over The Wall Street Journal? His progressions for this endeavor look very good. The main one is his progressed Jupiter, which is now conjunct his progressed Pluto, and the two are forming a success-oriented, highly favorable trine to his Sun. The Jupiter-Pluto combination is all about Big Money, and in the family sign of Cancer, likely refers to a partnership with the Bancroft family.

Paris Hilton Heading for Jail

Paris Hilton fans were aghast last week when the judge ordered her to jail for 45 days beginning on June 5. In January, Paris pleaded "no contest" to reckless driving stemming from her arrest on September 7, 2006 for driving under the influence. The judge was undoubtedly swayed toward harshness since Paris ignored a court order to attend an alcohol education program.

Paris Hilton was born with her Moon in the royal sign of Leo (February 17, 1981; 8:37 pm**; New York City, NY), a placement that gives the personality great pride, showmanship, and love of luxury. Her Moon's placement is especially significant as the ruler of her Midheaven, signifying her reputation. Her arrest on September 7 took place as transiting Saturn was exactly conjunct her Moon.

Saturn was rising when Paris Hilton was born (if her rectified time is correct), which instills a strong sense of responsibility and ambition. Saturn here pushed her into modeling, starting a perfume business, and an ongoing career in TV (The Simple Life). However, with her Aquarius Sun square Uranus, she is comfortable being a wild card, one who flaunts tradition and social expectations.

After September 2006, Saturn proceeded deeper into Leo, entered its retrograde phase, and then moved forward again. Last Friday, when the judge sentenced her, Saturn was once again exactly on her Leo Moon. On June 5, Mercury, the ruler of her Twelfth House of incarceration, will be right on her Midheaven. However, with transiting Pluto favorably sextile her natal Mercury, she'll probably spend only a few hours or days there.

*For more on the U.S. Sun in the Ninth House and the hybrid concept of intelligent design, please visit www.neptunecafe.com/sirius.html.

**Her birth time is unknown; the time given here is rectified by the author and should be considered speculative.

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