As the 2010 election looms ever closer, dire predictions of a Democratic disaster are sprouting like poisonous mushrooms on a boggy field. The ratings-driven media is promoting the usual political soap opera narrative, replete with multiple stories of collapsing failure snatched from the jaws of victory. Oh, the glee inspired by a media-crafted Schadenfreude.
The psychodrama promulgated by the infotainment industry is often more hyperbole than reality, although constant repetition of untruths and exaggerations does have its own procreative power. Nonetheless, the astrological indications for the coming election suggest that November may not be as harsh for Democrats as FOX News pundits might have you believe. From what I can tell, with the enormous caveat that I have almost no birth times in the charts I am using and that mid-term elections are very difficult to predict, I think the Democrats will hold both Houses of Congress although with much slimmer majorities.
With few exceptions, there is little to indicate a big wave of celebration from either party. Dick Durbin and Harry Reid, however, seem particularly happy with the election results, with numerous Jupiter and Venus transits, suggesting the Democrats keep the Senate and Reid keeps his seat. Despite some gains, it would seem Mitch McConnell will remain hemmed in by the numbers, as evidenced by the Saturn station sesquiquadrate his Sun mid-December through February and progressed Mercury conjunct his Saturn from January through July 2011.
Regarding the House, John Boehner seems quite upset with the election results due to Saturn square his Venus in early November, followed by the station of Saturn on his South Node from December through early March 2011. But Boehner will continue in his leadership position with some increased power as indicated by transiting Jupiter trine his Sun in December and sextile his progressed Sun/Jupiter in early January. Nonetheless, it seems not to be all that he had hoped.
Nancy Pelosi will have her hands full dealing with the newer, tighter numbers. She will be embroiled in significant and highly stressful wrangling due to Pluto square her Sun from mid-December through 2011. She will also feel somewhat restricted by the Saturn station of January through early February 2011 which will quincunx her Mercury.
The chart for the 112th Congress, drawn for January 4, 2011 at noon (assuming this is the correct date), suggests a very, very difficult term. The anger and paralysis are likely to worsen, with Saturn conjunct the Descendant and square a Sun/Moon/Mars conjunction. Moreover, ideological intensity will be strong, with Pluto conjunct the Node in the 9th house. Late March through October 2011 will be especially difficult, with Saturn transiting in exact square to Sun, Moon, and Mars in the new Congress chart. All in all, the Congressional soap opera will offer a time of intense anxiety fueled by power struggles and laced with conspiracy theories. Our real enemies are probably gleeful.