NewsScope for November 6, 2007

Musharraf Declares Emergency Rule

On Saturday November 3, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule by suspending the country's constitution, blacking out all independent television news, and filling the streets of Islamabad with police and military troops. The Supreme Court justices—within days of ruling on the legality of his recent election—were dismissed. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto so far has been left alone.

Musharraf was born with his Leo Sun (August 11, 1943; New Delhi, India; time unknown) square Mars, giving him a natural inclination toward military rule. It's quite possible that his Moon is at 14º Sagittarius, a position now being squared by transiting Uranus. This combination gives him the feeling of overwhelming crisis. His natal Mercury-Uranus square also tends to think outside the box, which in this case, is constitutional law.

Pluto, the planet of extremism, is now most prominent in Pakistan's national horoscope (August 15, 1947; 12:00 am; Karachi). When Musharraf declared martial law, transiting Pluto was at 27º Sagittarius, exact to the minute of forming a quincunx to the Moon at 27º Cancer. The Pluto to Moon aspect describes the emotional intensity of recent events, as well as the usurpation (Pluto) of individual rights and popular expectations (Moon).

Pakistan's progressed Ascendant is currently at 13º Cancer. Transiting Mars was at 11º Cancer when the military seized control, and we can expect that military actions will continue as Mars hovers around the progressed Ascendant throughout November. The U.S. government (with its Sun at 13º Cancer) has a huge role to play in Pakistan's affairs, and we might see some form of stern diplomatic intervention manifest by the Mars turns retrograde around the 15th.

Ron Paul, Dark Horse

Republican candidate Ron Paul has been touring the country for decades giving the same old radical speeches about free market economics, dismissing the Fed, and abolishing the individual income tax. While he had a good run at the presidency as the Libertarian candidate in 1988, not until just this last quarter—when he raised an unexpected $5 million—has he suddenly become a contender.

Ron Paul was born with his Leo Sun (August 20, 1935; Green Tree, PA; Allegheny County; time unknown) conjunct Pallas, an asteroid often bestowing a keen interest in politics. This Sun-Pallas combination is located at a most auspicious point in comparison to the U.S. horoscope: it's exactly aligned with the U.S. Moon at 25º Aquarius, which gives him a direct connection with the American people and their security needs.

For a candidate who speaks so often of liberty, freedom and independence, the planet Uranus must play an important role. Uranus in financially oriented Taurus describes his interest in well-grounded but radical economic principles, and his ability to explain his rationale is supported by Uranus's trine to logical Mercury in Virgo. Since his public role is based on these ideas, one might expect that he has Uranus in the Tenth House.**

Paul declared that he was running on March 12, 2007, when transiting Uranus was trine his Jupiter, reflecting the spontaneous internet support he received over the previous month. Transiting Uranus has now returned to this position, sparking another surge that should last through January when this aspect becomes exact, and likely paving the way for a surprising leadership role. In early 2008, his progressed Sun very favorably trines Saturn, giving him authority and respect during the primaries.

Stephen Colbert, Radical or Conservative?

On October 16, comedian Stephen Colbert reported that Stephen Colbert is "officially considering whether or not he will announce if he is considering running for the President of the United States." A few minutes later, he declared he was running as a Democrat and a Republican in South Carolina's primary. Unfortunately, the Republicans' entry fee was too high, and the Democrats decided that he wasn't a serious candidate.

Stephen Colbert was born with his Sun in Taurus (May 13, 1964; Washington D.C.; time unknown) along with three other planets in this traditional, practical earth sign. Originally, Colbert began his acting career as a serious actor, but fate led him into parody. This switch from traditional to insurgent can be seen in his Saturn-Uranus opposition, which pits mainstream beliefs (Saturn in Pisces) against rebellious criticism (Uranus in Virgo).

Saturn-Uranus aspects often foretell a life path that makes a dramatic switch from conservative to radical or vice-versa. Colbert has several planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Ceres) that form harmonious trines and sextiles to this polarity, which harmonize this inherently unstable combination. As such, he looks and pretends to be conservative, but acts in a way that undermines conservative hypocrisies.

The act requires a Uranian sense of detachment, which fatefully befell Colbert when he was only ten years old. His father and two brothers died in an airplane crash on September 11, 1974 as transiting Neptune and Ceres aligned with his Saturn-Uranus axis. Currently, transiting Saturn and his progressed Mars are hitting his natal Saturn-Uranus, leading to another unexpected shift in his life path. Will it be funny or tragic? The writers' strike will hit his show hard.

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