|
On May 31,
2000, Rick Lazio, a little-known U.S. representative from Long Island,
New York, catapulted into the national spotlight when he replaced New
York City mayor Rudolph
Giuliani as the Republican Party’s candidate in the New
York senatorial race against Hillary
Rodham Clinton. More than four months later, most New Yorkers
still do not really know who Rick Lazio the man is, nor how he stands
on the issues, even though he is a key figure in the country’s most visible
campaign outside the presidential election.
From
Boy Wonder to Bully
 This
mystery might have something to do with the position of his Sun in Pisces,
a mutable water sign, best known for its elusive, idealistic and dreamy
qualities. On the positive side, Lazio’s boyish looks, endearing smile
and affable personality (traits often found in Pisceans), initially gave
him the same high poll numbers Giuliani had, and for a while it looked
as if he might actually give Rodham Clinton a run for her money.
Where she
often appeared harsh and not quite in tune with her adopted state, Lazio
presented a comfortable and smiling figure, one who was completely secure
in relating to his fellow New Yorkers. In his four terms in the House
of Representatives, Republican Lazio managed to be loyal to his party,
even while voting pro-choice. In contrast to many in his party, he also
zealously supported key environmental issues—particularly the protection
and cleanup of the Long Island Sound so important to his constituency
in Bay Shore.
Rather than
continuing to build on the advantage of his positive image, Lazio changed
midstream (the way Pisceans often do), bombarding Mrs. Clinton with attack
after attack. These tactics seemed to reach a peak during their September
13 debate as he pressed verbal attacks on Clinton while invading her space
physically when he had the opportunity. In fact, the video clip from this
debate played most often on subsequent news programs shows Lazio standing
at Clinton’s podium, leaning over her (he is quite a bit taller), flaunting
a piece of paper in her face and demanding she sign it.
The incident
was supposed to drive home to viewers Lazio’s contention that Clinton
is an unprincipled politician who depends on loosely regulated “soft money”
campaign donations while Lazio supposedly does not. However, this incident
(and indeed his performance as a whole) only made many think he was both
immature and a bit of a bully. Within days, the polls began to shift noticeably
in Clinton’s favor.
Saturn
and Sharks
Lazio’s transformation
from a gentle, sweet-faced minnow to a hungry, overwrought shark can be
seen in the combination of his Sun in Pisces and Moon in Capricorn. Since
the Moon rules emotions and responses, it is no surprise that when presented
with a cool, composed opponent like Hillary Clinton, the cold and ruthless
side of Capricorn begins to dominate Lazio’s actions.
Saturn, Capricorn’s
ruler, symbolizes structure (and stricture) and moral judgment, and this
position brings out Lazio’s insensitive and preachy side. In fact, Saturn,
the great moralist, plays a large part in Lazio’s personality. Both the
Moon and Mars are placed in the sign of the mountain goat, and the Sun
in Pisces is squared by Saturn in Sagittarius. Underneath the sweet demeanor
lies a stern taskmaster who shows his opponents no mercy. Unfortunately,
his opponent is a woman, so this type of tactic has to be used with finesse,
and at just the right times, a fact which seemed to escape Lazio.
Aries
Digs In
While Saturn
certainly contributed to Lazio’s seeming ruthlessness during the first
debate, his sudden switch into attack mode can be seen not only in the
cold Capricorn Moon and Mars, but in the position of Mercury, the planet
of communication, in Mars-ruled Aries, a sign characterized by aggression,
arrogance and directness. Those who expected sweetness and light were
surprised by Lazio’s accusatory, assertive, angry manner. Like many people
with Mercury in Aries, Lazio gave New Yorkers the impression that he spoke
without thinking in the heat of the debate. The usual Piscean reaction
would be to feel bad and apologize, but with his Pisces Sun squaring Saturn
in Sagittarius, Lazio did just the opposite, showing absolutely no regret
for his actions.
To soften
his image and correct any damage done at the debate, Lazio could have
immediately reverted to that sweet, charming guy with the ideal American
family—a nurse wife, and two young girls. Instead, public criticism only
entrenched him more firmly in shark mode. Like some Pisceans, he needed
someone to take him by the hand and tell him either to lighten up or grow
up.
During the
second debate with Clinton, which took place on Sunday morning, October
8, Lazio did just that. By speaking softly yet firmly, and listening attentively,
he utilized the most positive attributes of his gentle Sun in Pisces and
even-tempered Moon in Capricorn. According to most polls, Clinton is still
ahead, but Lazio is no longer too far behind.
If he learns
the hard lessons of the past month, Lazio could prove to be a worthy contender
for the job of New York senator. Otherwise, election day—which has transiting
Mercury conjunct his Jupiter, and transiting Venus conjunct Saturn—will
simply turn out to be just another day for Rick Lazio.
|
