NewsScope for May 20, 2008

McCain's New Birth Time?

Several NewsScope correspondents reported a new birth time for John McCain of 11 am. The source is his mother, as quoted in a political ad that ran on Mother's Day*. Until now, astrologers have been using a 9:00 am birth time, or something close to 9:00 am. The two-hour discrepancy changes his Ascendant from Libra to Scorpio. Which one is correct?

As one correspondent notes, McCain's 11 am birth time means that all three presidential candidates have Scorpio Rising, which seems to validate the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope used in this column. Frankly, I'm frightened by the prospect of an 11 am time, since that would put his Mars at the Midheaven, and I don't want to see our next president having the war planet at this angular position.

However, McCain's 92-year-old mother may have a faulty memory; 9:00 am is likely closer to the correct time. Libra Rising is a people-pleaser, as when McCain described how he managed a comeback on the David Letterman Show: "Tell 'em what they want to hear, and sometimes tell 'em what they don't want to hear." The self-expression is other-oriented. And McCain shows dimples when he grins, another telltale sign of the Libra Ascendant.

When comparing a few of the key events in McCain's life to the 9:00 am horoscope, major outer planet transits and progressions don't activate the angles, as they should if the birth time is correct. So a number of astrologers – including myself – have used 9:00 am as a starting point to rectify his chart. I've come up with 8:37 am, and details are provided at http://neptunecafe.com/McCain.html.

The Endangered Species Act  

Last Wednesday, the Secretary of the Interior announced that the polar bear would be placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Theoretically, listing the polar bear would force the government to restrict CO2 emissions, since the polar bear's loss of critical habitat is clearly linked to global warming. But government officials declared that the ESA was not meant as a vehicle for addressing climate change.

The Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon on December 28, 1973 (noon, Washington D.C.). The ESA horoscope features the Capricorn Sun in exactly squaring Pluto and closely opposing Saturn in Cancer, making a powerful T-square that gives the government legislative teeth when it comes to protecting threatened wildlife. Potentially, this is an extremely powerful government tool.

The planets involved in this T-square are closely aligned with the U.S. Venus-Jupiter conjunction, which is found in the U.S. Eighth House. In basic astrological terms, Venus-Jupiter in the Eighth House is wealthy inheritance. In signing the ESA, Nixon referred to America's rich array of wildlife as a many-faceted treasure and a vital part of the American heritage – a statement which perfectly describes the U.S. Venus-Jupiter.

Last week, when the polar bear made the ESA listing, transiting Pluto was conjunct the ESA Mercury, the natural ruler of announcements. Pluto was also opposed to the ESA Saturn, reflecting the dramatic power struggle between environmentalists and the Bush administration, which has declined to take any steps to protect the polar bear. This issue will most certainly return in 2009, when transiting Pluto returns to this degree area, and when we have a more environmentally-sensitive administration.

Ellen DeGeneres to Marry

Last Thursday, the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage. This turn of events didn't go unnoticed by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who announced that afternoon on her syndicated talk show that she and live-in girlfriend Portia de Rossi were engaged to be married. Meanwhile, religious and social conservatives are working to undo the court ruling by putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Ellen DeGeneres was born with her Sun in quirky Aquarius (January 26, 1958; 3:30 am; New Orleans, LA), and conjunct the love planet Venus. This combination gives her an extra dose of independence and unpredictable antics by the opposition to rebellious Uranus. Her Sagittarius Ascendant describes an expressive, truth-telling personality, which is amplified by a trine from her bold, pioneering Aries Moon.

In 1997, DeGeneres brought her character in the ABC sitcom Ellen out of the closet, becoming the first openly gay lead in a prime-time show. At the time, transiting Uranus, sometimes known as "the Awakener", was conjunct her Sun, while transiting Saturn was conjunct her Aries Moon. Currently, transiting Uranus is squaring her First House Saturn, another wake-up call upsetting the status quo.

Ordinarily, the Sun-Uranus individual isn't keen on contracts. However, Mercury (the ruler of her Seventh House  of partners) is placed in formal Capricorn. By secondary progression, Mercury is now forming a sextile to Juno, the marriage asteroid, and is also trine Uranus and sextile Venus – all very happy combinations for an exciting, public relationship. Expect to see much more of this couple as transiting Jupiter  passes over her Mercury this summer.

*For the political ad, go here.
Source notes on McCain's 9:00 am birth time

See the more detailed analysis of McCain's 8:37 am birth time at http://neptunecafe.com/McCain.html

Next week: was Obama born at 7:11 pm? News from the UAC.

Reader feedback is welcome. Email wolfstar3@aol.com.