The race is already on for an election a mere 11 months hence. Pundits report that Democrats agonize over a feared repudiation of their ineffectiveness in solving the nation’s severe economic turmoil, its health care crisis, and its escalating war. The rabid and incoherent GOP is salivating at the prospect of a return from exile. Interpreting the stars for congressional elections is a precarious endeavor. There are too many variables and very few birth times given for the charts used. Nonetheless, there is always the temptation to try.
The atmosphere for the 2010 election is created by the Saturn/Pluto square in hard aspect to the US Venus (3Cancer06), with Saturn beginning to separate from the square by late August 2010, and Pluto beginning to separate from the opposition by late October 2010. Both planets are bringing a sense of stress and anxiety to the financial security of Americans. Added to this mix is the Saturn square to Obama’s Venus (1Cancer47), curtailing his extraordinary charisma to the level of a mere mortal, and likely keeping his poll numbers somewhat down through August 2010. Thus, the background noise to the coming election drama does not favor the party in power, i.e., the Democrats.
Of further concern in November 2010 are two configurations that suggest some very significant challenges for the administration during that month. The Inaugural progressed Moon will be waxing in a square to natal Saturn (21Virgo24) from October 20 through November 18, a sure sign of severe stress and anxiety in the administration. And transiting Saturn will be square to the US Sun (13Cancer19) from November 8 through November 18, another indication of significant pressure on the president and the nation. Generally, the Sun in a nation’s chart represents the ruler and the nation’s most important goals. While the Sun is under Saturn, goals and current projects will be frustrated or scaled down, and the administration will be significantly burdened and obstructed. It remains to be seen if these aspects in November 2010 will have to do with the outcome of the election or with an entirely unrelated set of circumstances that bring extreme disquiet to the administration at that time.
Despite the obvious expectation for an election disaster for Democrats due to the economy, the war, and the general malaise of the moment, there are some indications that things may not be as bad as predicted by the pundits. From today’s vantage point, I would say that the Senate will come through relatively unscathed, with Democrats losing only a few seats. The House may well take a bigger beating, but I do not think Democrats will lose the Majority. In the charts I have looked at, I see nothing that suggests significant upset or unhappiness among Democrats and nothing that suggests a big victory for Republicans. There are some exceptions, but they do not fit the pattern and therefore suggest more individual outcomes. The following are my preliminary results.
The Senate:
Harry Reid (12/2/39) is struggling to maintain public support in his home state of Nevada. Republicans would love to take over his seat next year. Indicating his currently declining poll numbers is the Saturn transit opposite his Venus that will be in effect through late August 2010. But Reid is likely to come roaring back in September 2010 with the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction on his natal Jupiter (28Pisces59). Both planets will cross his Jupiter again in January 2011, this time consecutively, during the beginning of the new Congress. In addition, the Venus station will conjunct his North Node (28Libra29) and quincunx his Jupiter in November, while the North Node makes a long crossing of his Venus from late November through early February 2011. It is hard to imagine Reid not winning this election and continuing to be part of a Majority party, possibly still as Majority Leader.
Dick Durbin (11/21/44) is not running for reelection but is the Senate Democratic Whip. He looks particularly happy in November, when Jupiter stations opposite his Jupiter (23Virgo36), and in January, when Jupiter and Uranus will trine his Mars/Sun conjunction (27 and 29 Scorpio). Venus will also cross his Mars/Sun conjunction during the first days of the new Congress.
Mitch McConnell (2/20/42), Senate Minority Leader, seems as grumpy as ever during the critical November 2010 through January 2011 period. The Uranus station will be semisquare his Mercury (11Aquarius48) from October through December 2010, and the Saturn station will be sesquiquadrate his Sun (1Pisces26) from mid-December 2010 through late February 2011. With transiting Pluto sesquiquadrate his Mars (21Taurus29) in January 2011 and again later in the year, and progressed Mercury conjunct natal Saturn (22Taurus22) during the first half of 2011, I do not see McConnell celebrating anything but instead continuing his obstructionist and largely negative agenda.
Barbara Boxer (11/11/40) is running for reelection in California, a state incredibly hard hit by the recession. The Saturn transit crossing her Venus (11Libra58) and Node (10Libra38) from mid-October to November 5, 2010, suggests she may lose this election. It is also possible this transit refers to a personal and difficult matter going on at the time, and a very early birth time might imply things improve after the election, but using a generic noon birth time, Boxer looks quite upset for a few weeks continuing through November 5, three days after the voting. In addition, her Moon (12 Aries at noon) may also be opposed by Saturn somewhere around the election. These planets suggest a time of grief and difficulty for Boxer that will either be personal or indicate an election loss.
The House:
Nancy Pelosi (3/26/40), Speaker of the House, will hit a stressful period from December 23, 2010, through February 7, 2011, when the Saturn station will quincunx her Mercury (17Pisces07). We see the same period indicated in the chart of Chris Van Hollen (1/10/59) when Saturn will be within 10 minutes of conjunct his Node (17Libra23). There is little in either chart to suggest sorrow (Saturn) during the election and just after, but also nothing of a celebratory nature.
On the other hand, John Boehner (11/17/49), House Minority Leader, looks quite distressed from November 2010 through February 2011, as Saturn squares his Venus (10/27 to 11/7), conjuncts his South Node (12/8/10 to 3/3/11), and conjuncts his Neptune (12/9 to 2/28/11). It is hard to imagine a new Republican majority indicated by these planets. Eric Cantor (6/6/63) also shows no celebration (Jupiter or Venus transits) in his chart during and after the election and will also be under the Saturn station and its attendant frustrations and restrictions when it sits in a semisquare with his Mars/Uranus conjunction (1Virgo42) from December 13, 2010, through February 23, 2011. Saturn will also oppose his Jupiter (13Aries29) from November 10 though November 20.
Tim Kaine, Chairman of the DNC, will benefit from the Venus retrograde around the election, when it crosses his Node (2Scorpio49) and Jupiter (1Scorpio28) and squares his Venus (2Auarius02). This indicates the head of the Democratic Party will be very happy immediately after the election and again in early December. However, similar to indications for Pelosi and van Hollen, the period from mid-December 2010 through late February 2011 will bring some significant stress, with Saturn square Kaine’s natal Mars (16Capricorn30).
Thus, a preliminary investigation suggests both Houses will remain in Democratic hands, but with smaller majorities and therefore more intensive power struggles likely in order to get anything done.
