Bernie Sanders Picks up a Couple of Unexpected Endorsements - Thom Hartmann reports

Jan 1, 2016: This Just In concerning Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 Campaign:

Related: Is This the Natal Horoscope of Bernie Sanders? which may or may not be set for his correct time of birth, however, the planets in the chart are based on his date of birth. You'll note that the added endorsements come at a time when the planet of politics, expansion, and good fortune, Jupiter, has been and is within orb of his North Node (a Jupiterian point of public contact; joining) and dreamy, idealistic Neptune in Virgo, sign of The Worker and The Critic.

And I'm sending out a huge Thank You, Everyone, for all your tweets, re-tweets, and shares throughout 2015! Jude

Catch Up on This Week's Top Stories! David Pakman reports

Catch up on the Week of December 21, 2015:

Sanders Campaign has Big Day of Endorsements (w Nina Turner) - clip

December 18, 2015 Ed Schultz reports:

Astro-Notes on 18 South: the First Solar Eclipse of 2016

Astro-Notes: Lunations of March 2016

by Jude Cowell

Most often there are two solar eclipses in a given year though sometimes there may be four as in 1982, 2000, and 2011; 1992 sported three solar eclipses. The first solar eclipse of a year establishes the solar tone or resonance for the year with remaining solar (and lunar) eclipses adding their own vibes, flavors, themes and influences as each year proceeds.

Since New Year 2016 is peeking around our calendar's corner, let's consider the first solar eclipse of the year which manifests @18Pisces56 on March 9, 2016 followed by a Lunar Eclipse @3Libra17 on March 23.

Note that in America's natal chart (July 4, 1776 5:00 - 5:15 LMT Philadelphia, PA) our 9th house Neptune @22Virgo and 10th house Saturn @14Libra may be activated by the Moon for their midpoint is 3 Libra. As you know, the combination of Saturn and Neptune denotes potentials for such things as weak, ill, poor, or elderly people and thus social safety net programs to aid them--in a word socialism, but also communism, capitalism, bolshevikism, Marxism, materialism vs spiritualism or idealism, depressed or pessimistic people, undermining circumstances, pain and suffering, sacrifice, illnesses, contagion, neuroses, asceticism, renunciation, natural disasters--quite a batch of negative implications within the duo of societal planet Saturn and outer planet Neptune, the nebulous. Add the Lunar Eclipse of March 23 and we find women's health, difficult emotions, and chronic medical conditions may also apply. From a solar perspective of the Full Moon (Eclipse) there's a lack of vitality involved.

And of course an exact square between Saturn and Neptune occurred on November 26, 2015 with its obvious influences on the Collective via negative attitudes about Syrian refugees and countries and states refusing them entry (or attempting to), racism, protests, and other negative societal conditions which are causing many people anxiety, fear, and paranoia. Meanwhile, many of those with the power to act are indifferent to their duties and prefer to neglect their responsibilities! Apparently politicians behaving in breach of the public contract is not an embarrassment anymore and for some it's some sort of (degraded) badge of honor.

Will You Vote in 2016?

Naturally we expect the March eclipses to affect Campaign 2016 rhetoric and subsequent public opinion and we've already heard plenty of remarks, proposals, and promises concerning social programs particularly since one candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders, identifies himself as an Independent from Vermont who is a Democratic Socialist. Personally I equate the senator's policies with care for the common good which means spending money on our needs here at home and dedicating fewer resources to playing global cop and occupying other countries, though you may of course disagree as you wish.

Now here are brief astro-notes published previously concerning the 18 South Solar Eclipse which begins 2016, a presidential election year in the US:

March 9, 2016 18S themes include potentials for: endings, separations, and partings which can relate to travel or to break ups of relationships and/or alliances; grief and anguish may follow yet the pain of separation is lessened by new situations which create positive outcomes.

The Initial Eclipse in the 18S Series occurred on August 20, 1096 OS @3Sco29 with forceful even brutal Mars-Pluto undertones; this degree conjoins the current position of US Secondary Progressed Saturn Rx @3Scorpio showing America's compromised authority in the world, building most specifically (Rx) since at least 1996. Therefore, we can stretch all the way to midpoint picture potentials which may apply to the eclipse season: Mars-Pluto = Saturn: leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of a particular task (Ebertin); frustrated goals (Munkasey.)

Another major flavor within 18S via its initial eclipse is an obsessive quindecile aspect (165 degr) between two money planets, Venus and Jupiter which on one level can give much creative energy but also indicates an excessive drive for relationships and/or money; ideals, morals, and ethics are often based on material gain, belief systems tend to motivate action, and excess and indulgence are definite potentials. For positive expressions of 18S, education is essential. (Reeves, The Quindecile.)

Now an interesting cast of characters, entities, and events were born or occurred under 18S:

Sirhan Sirhan, Craig Ferguson, Rudy Giuliani, Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Piet Mondrian, the city of St. Augustine, Florida, the US hostage release by Iran theatrically staged just in time for Reagan's first Inauguration, and the surrender of General Cornwallis to General George Washington at an hour, date, and location of what is said to have been Freemason George's choosing.

For historical context we find that 18S has manifested in the years 1908, 1926, 1944, 1962, 1980, 1998, (2016); next: 2034 @30Pisces which keys the Aries Point of World Events.

So there it is: the first solar eclipse of 2016 once the current eclipse of September 13, 2015 (18N) fades with its high level of stress and overtaxing of strength themes.

~:~

Eclipse info: Brady's Predictive Astrology.

Rep. Steve Cohen on Refugee Vote and 2016 (11.20.15) - video (w Saturn in Sag)

Now that restrictive, conservative, status quo Saturn has settled into Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, sign of the emigrant, refugee, stranger, and foreigner (plus, ideals, ideologies, religion, and a need or desire to travel) we have a long haul until the old man planet of lessons, tasks, losses, and hardships enters his own sign of Capricorn in December 2017. During that period he will approach, conjoin, and cross one of the four Cardinal World Points of Manifestation, 00 Capricorn, in order to vacate Sagittarius where issues of justice, legalities, religion, and philosophy are prevalent topics in society which demand addressing.

And as we see, the desire to emigrate and forced separation from one's country are particularly denoted by Saturn in Sagittarius along with restrictions on accepting refugees who need safety and support and a closing (Saturn) of borders (Saturn again) to travelers and emigrants (Sagittarius). We also notice a tragic lack (Saturn) of wisdom (Saturn and Sag) in the political system (Saturn rules systems) though if political managers listened to those with experience and/or seniority concerning refugee issues, needy sojourners would be treated more fairly and America's ideals so long touted would be upheld like the Statue of Liberty's (Illuminati) torch of freedom. Instead we find the *Saturn-Neptune and Uranus-Pluto squares ruling the day--one indicating loss, painstaking efforts, and suffering, the other describing a generational clash between upstarts and the establishment with protest movements all around.

Here's a discussion of the "Home of the Not-So-Brave" refugee vote in Congress yesterday plus some political observations from Ed Schultz and Rep. Steve Cohen concerning 2016:

*The Saturn-Neptune pair also represents certain -isms such as Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, and such. Presently 2016 candidate Bernie Sanders fulfills that role in society as the explainer and promoter of Democratic Socialism. And if you use the late afternoon Sag rising natal chart for America (July 4, 1776) you know that Saturn in Libra and Neptune in Virgo straddle the Midheaven of the chart and of our nation which denotes a socialist agenda vs capitalism as a Goal. That transiting Saturn will come in range of and cross our natal Ascendant (11-13Sag) of that chart before the end of December 2015 into 2016 (already within orb) is something to consider since Saturn's issues of accountability and responsibility have already become prominent in the halls of Washington DC where the globalist wars that displaced the population of Syria were planned and executed from the Pentagon with the encouragement of other western (and perhaps eastern) powers.

The Speech Bernie Sanders has Needed to Give - video

Democratic Socialism has now been explained by 2016 candidate Senator Bernie Sanders:

Sanders Nails It Again: “We Have To Be Strong, But Not Stupid" - video

Aren't they adorable? Those governors who think they can override federal law about accepting Syrian refugees into their states. My home state of Georgia is saddled with Governor Nathan Deal (Republican who in 2010 ran from Capitol Hill just before the congressional ethics committee nailed him--all the way back to Georgia):

#FeelTheBern #Georgia #SmallMinded #Governors #SyrianRefugees #BombingSyria #WOT #EastvsWest

Commentary: Wall Street takes Center Stage at 2nd Democratic Debate

So far are you hearing Congress agree with Hillary Clinton on fixing Wall Street? Crickets!

Natal and 2016 Astrology of Bernie Sanders with a nod to Hillary

Although we still don't have his birth hour here is an informative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in the natal chart of 2016 candidate Bernie Sanders along with the planetary influences of Election Day 2016.

Yes, the planetary portents look strong for Senator Sanders though last evening's tragic attacks in Paris may hinder presidential chances for any Democrat (of course Sanders is a bit different as a Democratic Socialist) though negatives may cling more specifically to Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Still, Republicans adore any opening for denigrating Democrats as being 'soft on terrorism' so we'll see how they spin the Paris attacks politically and how easy such meringue goes down the gullet of the voting public--especially since many things can happen between now and November 8, 2016.

Yet it's highly predictable that Republicans will attempt to frost both Clinton and Sanders as second rate to any one of them as presidential 'tough guys' but the cherry on top will probably go to Hillary Clinton since the GOP expects to be running against her and her formidable popularity come Election Day.

So Who Will Be 'The Other' on Election Day 2016?

Written way back in July 2015 with an update since, here's what evening star Venus has to do with US presidential election outcomes especially the one on November 8, 2016. Voters want "someone different" pundits are saying in reference to the non-politicians who are running--like Ben Carson and Donald Trump though a female president or a Democratic Socialist could satisfy the desire of Venus in Sagittarius quite well. A victorious Senator Sanders might in a sense be considered of a 'rival party' to the Obama wing of the Democrats--unless you count BHO a Republican!

So I wonder if pundits and reporters who say voters want "someone different" know about the Venus Cycle in US Politics: Venus in her own sign of Libra vs Venus in Sagittarius, sign of The Foreigner, or, The Stranger?

Nah! It's more likely that talking heads and their think tanks had to come up with a plausible excuse for why establishment candidates of the Republican persuasion are so far polling like yesterday's stinky catfish.

Bernie Sanders Has Winning Strategy: Democratic Socialism Works - video (plus, FDR)

The Nation's John Nichols and Ring of Fire's Farron Cousins discuss Democratic Socialism, candidate Bernie Sanders and how he needs to talk more about it, and the 4th Republican debate and the ideas that were espoused for the American people:

Here's another video interview conducted by Thom Hartmann in case you missed Social Democracy Is 100% American. After all, FDR's implementation of our social safety net programs was actually a major sign of progress on America's march toward a 'new world order' and you may wish to check out an assessment of FDR's abilities as noted by Fabian Socialist H.G. Wells.

And since these forms of government are quite a bit more complex than the above interviews suggest, I recommend for background on Fabian Socialism (Communism, Bolshevikism, Marxism, etc) if you need it: Keynes at Harvard which is where Fabian Socialism was initially introduced into American academia and was thereby able to infiltrate the US government, even influencing Wilson's Fourteen Points, an alleged "blueprint for peace". After campaigning with a "peace platform," Woodrow Wilson touted his 'points' in an address to the US Congress on January 8, 1918 while deceptive Neptune @6Leo conjoined US natal North Node (encounter, public contact, and future direction.)

As a pair, Neptune-NN describes such potentials as: anti-social elements, a lack of communal spirit, ideals as an excuse for neglecting the needs of the populace, scandals involving foreign concerns, an inadequate health care system (especially during and after a war), drug policies that avoid important concerns, and/or spies or terrorists that enter for villainous purposes.

(Neptune-NN potentials: Ebertin; Munkasy.)

Swing Voters Don’t Exist - Why Are Dems Moving To The Center? - video (w Astrology)

Now here is a good question for Democratic candidates who drift toward 'the middle' where they imagine conservative voters graze along with answers from Mike Papantonio:

~:~

Related is a previous post displaying the natal Horoscope of the Democratic Party circa February 17, 1801 1:00 pm LMT Washington DC with a few chart details penned on the image. Source: the letters of Thomas Jefferson via Bill Sellers.

You'll note 2Can29 rising with US natal Venus (3Cancer), then our natal Jupiter and Sun (5-14Can); MC 10Pisces (compassion?); Sun @28Aquarius (conjunct US natal Moon = mummy, daddy, and 'the nanny state'), and Moon @27Aries (Aries = I AM; Moon = the people). Perhaps we see here the traditional link from labor unions and other US workers to the Democratic Party along with what are supposed to be the 'democratic ideals' of Thomas Jefferson. So the Democratic Party is more of a maternal common good organization while the Republican Party is paternalistic and more severe.

You may also note on the chart that 1:00 pm LMT is during a Jupiter Hour with Jupiter Rx @25Cancer conjunct US natal Mercury Rx = large plans, plans for expansion, over-promising, idealism, broad vistas which we now see in motion across the globe with America's 'exceptional' imperial growth of 'boots on the ground' of sacred sand where westerners Do Not Belong. Dem Party Jupiter is in the party's 2nd house of the National Treasury showing how costly and resource-depleting America's misadventures abroad were and are even with Democrats in charge.

Bernie Sanders Sits Down With Rachel Maddow (Full Interview) | MSNBC

Sept 18, 2015:

October 13, 2015: The First Democratic Primary Debate Astro-Notes

Tuesday October 13: CNN Sponsors the 2016 Democratic Primary Debate

by Jude Cowell

To save you the mild angst of clicking or tapping in the SO'W sidebar, here is a handy link to the Campaign 2016 Democratic Debate page with a list of the Democratic Primary Debates Schedule such as it is known for now. Only the first of the six debates includes the names of the invited candidates and they are: Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley, Webb, and Chafee. It has been announced that VP Joe Biden will not participate in the first debate. No promises on the remaining debates for the gaffe-prone CFR-Bilderberg vice president and self-avowed Zionist.

Edit Oct 15: recommended for coverage of issues is The District Sentinel.

Now if you're familiar with astrological principles (as I suspect you are), it is a maxim that how things begin is how they will end so we may wish to consider the astrological conditions in effect at (9:00 pm ET; 8:00 pm CT) 6:00 pm PT on October 13, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada to discover the blend of the earthly and cosmic atmospheres during this political event. As above, So below therefore we'll consider how things will proceed based on the chart-ruler's applying aspects, if any. Planets are the actors and in this case, politicians are the main actors on the world stage as they each attempt to impress the public and convince their supporters and the DNC that theirs is the winning presidential bid to vie successfully against whichever Republican candidate makes a run for the White House in November 2016. Who can sway the public most effectively? Well first, let's consider the ringmaster of the evening.

Astro-Notes: Moderator Anderson Cooper

Debate moderator Anderson Cooper has an interesting natal chart if you care to take a look and its Rodden Rating is B (source: bio/autobiography.) With his Mars @15Lib25 and Ascendant @19Lib04 precisely setting on the Descendant of the 6:00 pm PT debate chart (19Lib07) a close angular contact seems quite pertinent. Cooper's natal Moon @23Ari26 rises in the debate chart, good for publicity and favor, and his natal chart has recently experienced eclipse contacts of note which bode well for important events and conditions and indicate a busy year for him: the Spring Equinox 2015 Solar Eclipse @29Pis27 precisely conjoined his natal Chiron @29Pis27 (conjunct the Aries Point of Fame, Fortune, Prominence, and Recognition), and the current Solar Eclipse @20Vir10 (September 13, 2015 with its themes of a high stress level and an overtaxing of strength) now sits upon his natal Uranus (20Vir17)--this is new or novel (Uranus) work (Virgo) for him. And we know that having natal Uranus in Mercury-ruled Virgo gives him good intellect and reformist tendencies but can also supply tactless frankness and misplaced criticism! (Ebertin.)

And so with October 13's transit Uranus @18Ari25 Rx rising at 6:00 pm PT in Las Vegas, we may expect Mr. Cooper to cope well with the debaters and with any unexpected occurrences that may crop up (Uranus rising) especially considering the disruptive tendencies of quirky Uranus on hand. However, his own Uranus degree and the current eclipse degree 20Vir10/17 are near a difficult star Denebola (to go against society, or, going against the mainstream) so it will be interesting to see if Anderson Cooper partakes of or receives this energy in some way especially since Denebola's "mainstream" reminds us of the "mainstream media" in which he plays a role. Will the proceedings be done differently?

As for the 1st Debate chart itself, the tiresomely ongoing Cardinal Square between Uranus and Pluto is angular because not only is Uranus rising, but power manipulator Pluto (13Cap03) conjoins the chart's and debate's Midheaven (MC), the WHY? Point of Aspirations and Goals. One of Pluto's roles when in Saturn-ruled Capricorn (sign of government, law, and business) is the dictator but I shall allow you to decide what the candidates desire as they make a bid for the Democratic nomination and the coveted Oval Office. If either of us make it through the evening's debate perhaps we'll hear a pitch for or against a foreign dictator, or from Bernie, a riff against wealthy plutocrats who gain by exploiting the masses. Plus, some of psychological Pluto's prime propaganda may be a goal of the night's agenda compliments of publishing moguls or corporate titans.

Now it's true that no planet in Cancer opposes debate Pluto except for US natal Sun (POTUS), however, the hidden IC's Sabian Symbol is "A Chinese Woman Nursing a Baby with a Message" (12Cancer) which I've always considered an important symbol in US Politics--and also in US Finances. As you know, the IC is the Foundation or Basis of the Matter and denotes The Drain which suggests currency manipulation, trade deficits, and other thorny monetary issues.

Saturn Square Neptune: the Ill, the Elderly, the Weak, and the Poor

We may expect the Saturn-Neptune square to receive notice as working classes, social programs and possibly their funding, a living wage, and other societal ills are brought up for whatever discussion is allowed. Another monetary hint is restrictive Saturn @2Sag12 in the 8th house of Credit, Debt, Insurance, Legacies, Shared Resources, and Corporatism and I suspect we all know that America was long ago sold out to the highest bidder/s such as creditor China. And in Mundane Astrology, karmicSaturn can represent those with seniority and authority but also lawmakers, judges, lawyers, managers, and in Sagittarius may also denote emigrants, philosophers, and/or religiously motivated individuals. Actually, there are reasons this 8th house Saturn may on one level signify VP Biden but I won't go into the details just now.

Instead, let's discuss the chart-ruler's applying aspect and with Aries rising (at the Exaltation of the Sun degree, 19), Mars rules the chart and the debate and also rules the 8th house via its 24Sco26 cusp (okay--along with wealthy Pluto at MC.) Mars makes two closely applying Ptolemaic (major) aspects in the October 13 debate chart. First he (and I'm calling Mars for Bernie Sanders!) trines Pluto (1A16) indicating that actor Mars will be able to exercise all the control he needs as long as he uses this power subtly and with incisive accuracy. Intense energy surrounds Mars in this debate and if the trine energy is used wisely, a high level of success may be his. Other factors and actors may interfere, of course, but a Mars-Pluto trine is a very beneficial aspect between these two dynamic planets.

However, America's perpetual warmongering (Mars-Pluto) is a potential debate topic (as it should be) but the debate should turn out quite well for Mars posited in studious, detail-oriented Virgo and ruled by Mercury in Libra which is in mutual reception with Venus @4Vir31, ruler of fair minded Libra, sign of diplomacy and justice.

The other applying aspect of Mars is a conjunction (1A39) with Jupiter, planet of the politician, banker, guru, priest, and the General. Mars conjoining Jupiter describes one who has an exaggerated or expanded part to play in the proceedings so we may expect a male (Mars) to come forward during the debate (whether that's Senator Sanders or not) and meet with good fortune (Jupiter).

As for the house of Politics, Karma (reaping what was sown), Self-Undoing, and Secret Enemies (the 12th h) we have the rising Uranus (apex of a Fist of God or Thor's Hammer pattern with the restrictive square between Venus and Saturn (money issues concerning law enforcement?) at its base. This trio denotes someone using their charm but there are also potentials for rebellion, resentment, and separation. We also have deceptive Neptune Rx in its own shady sign of oceanic Pisces--curiously, a sign of war--and priestly Chiron at a critical degree (17 Pisces) and retrograde. 12th house is where backroom deals are made and Neptune is traveling in tandem with asteroid Circe (where we seek rescue).

A second planetary pattern is a T-Square between a Venus-Neptune opposition (visionaries and dreamers) pointing toward that restrictive 8th house Saturn and we find that someone is coming down to earth, exhibiting frigidity, and/or using an effective delusion. The trio brings in an interesting picture according to Michael Munkasey in his midpoint book...see what you think:

Venus-Neptune = Saturn: creating circumstances that appear to mirror reality which for me describes closely the false reality or matrix We the People (and the populations of the world) are ensnared within as *Max Igan has so often alerted us to! And of course, it also relates to the falsity of television and the appearance that American voters actually have a choice of candidates to choose from.

Because to paraphrase Josef Stalin concerning all elections including ours in November 2016, It's not the vote that counts, it's who counts the votes. How very sad but oh so true.

Yet in spite of it all, Venus may take all the chips in the game for what do you know! There's lady Venus @4Vir31 just entered the 5th house of Risk-Taking, Gambling, and Creative Pursuits--and she's taking over the whole shebang as the lead planet of a Locomotive planetary pattern! This leading Venus must signify Hillary Clinton and her lead in the polls, don't you agree? For as leading engine of the Democrats' debate choo choo train, she's in a high powered executive position and is determined to solve a problem and/or complete an important task.

So as a Child of the Revolution (30 Cancer), I can only hope and pray for the sake of America's future generations that she isn't focused like a laser on one of those lousy 'new world order' tasks that suck so mightily.

*The Max Igan link leads you to one of his Surviving the Matrix video series in 4 parts: Finding Your Path Through the False Reality which comes highly recommended if you haven't watched it. Also check out The Crowhouse website for more broadcasts and interviews when you can. jc

video: Bernie Sanders Joined Congress: Health Insurance, Economics (1990 interview)

When Independent Senator Sanders entered the US Congress it had been 40 years since Frazier Reams of Ohio entered the House of Representatives as an Independent. Here's an informative C-SPAN interview with Bernie Sanders whose hair could have used a comb then, too!

View C-SPAN with Bernie Sanders, now a Democratic candidate for US president in 2016 whether the Democratic Party wants him to be or not. Personally I'm glad the senator keeps reminding both Democrats and Republicans of the critical issues now affecting the American people and how our concerns should be addressed in order to level the playing field in this rigged game that favors plutocrats, transnational corporatists, and their political handmaidens and operatives of Washington DC.

For as you know, corporatism + statism = fascism.

Closely related: the Sun Virgo-Moon Aries personality blend of Bernie Sanders.

Democratic Party Shutting Out Bernie Sanders! - video

Bernie Sanders with the Unofficial Democratic Response - video

The Biggest Winner Of The CNN Republican Debate Was Bernie Sanders

From Politicus USA: The Biggest Winner Of The CNN Republican Debate Was Bernie Sanders.

Related video: Bernie Sanders' Populism Is Catching.... And with his birth time unknown, see a few astro-notes on Bernie Sanders' Sun Virgo-Moon Aries personality blend.

Face The Facts: The American People Are Populists - video

Populism is more than expressing sentiments toward public concerns.

If I had to name one factor in America's natal horoscope and psyche of 1776 to represent our populist tendencies it would be our Moon (We the People) in the humanitarian sign of Aquarius. And for leadership (Sun) there's our business-oriented, self-protective, tribal sign of Cancer--ruled by the Moon, but no longer truly under the influence of We the People because corporate business entities have taken over and direct the Washington political establishment particularly since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was sneakily passed by the US Congress minutes before they absconded for Christmas vacation to celebrate the selling out our nation to international bankers and other decrepit jacka*ses of a Utopian global government persuasion.

The Venus Cycle and US Presidential Election 2016

First Vote 2016, Venus, and the Election of a US President

by Jude Cowell

In September 2008 in her Visual Astrology Newsletter, Bernadette Brady published an intriguing article titled Standing in the Radiance of Venus: A Visual Astrology view of the US presidential election and its self-imposed union with Venus using the 8-year cycle of planet Venus as a predictive guide. With the 2016 campaign season already percolating thanks to interested billionaires and an overeager corporate media industry (using it to divert from other matters), let's take a peek at Election Day November 8, 2016 and focus primarily on the position and condition of Venus who radiates the candidate and ruling party she favors with success, or empowers the challenger she favors, while appearing in her cosmic role as either Morning Star or Evening Star.

Venus Must Have Her Way

Now as Morning Star, Venus favors the incumbent candidate or ruling party (even if 2 terms--8 years--have been served by one president)--aka, the "one who wears the crown" as it was termed in the olden days of Mundane Astrology. The Morning Star status of Venus occurs in November (2nd through 8th, when presidential elections are held) when the lady is in the early degrees of Libra, one of the signs Venus rules. Since our elections are on a 4-year cycle, Venus is Evening Star in alternate elections since Venus returns to her same position every 8 years. As Evening Star her position is the mid-to-later degrees of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, sign of the stranger or foreigner---someone different or 'other' who acts as the challenger to the throne -- such as a non-politician, or an Independent (neither Republican nor Democrat).

But in her Evening Star role, Venus bestows favor upon the incumbent party's rival as if she's wielding influence in the court of a king and 'the crown' may be given to the opponent of the king who rules. Yet there have been two notable exceptions to this predictive guide--the successful election of Democrat Franklin Roosevelt in the election of 1932 when he whisked away 'the crown' from the head of one-term Republican Hoover, and the election of Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980 who finagled 'the crown' from one-term Democrat Jimmy Carter. Both elections occurred with Venus as Morning Star yet upsets were somehow allowed due in part to both candidates' tendencies to hastily give favors to others and/or make advantageous backroom deals (Iran hostages for Reagan; for Hoover, his tide of popularity had turned due to economics after 1929.) Let's not use the word 'cheating' though I will say that cheating isn't winning, it's stealing. Plus, a fed up American public makes a difference as well--if we show up and vote.

So setting aside the two exceptions of 1932 and 1980 while remembering that 'dirty tricks' are typically used by power elites to skew election results their way, we look ahead to a horoscope of Election Day 2016 in the form of a symbolic chart of the Dixville Notch, New Hampshire 'first vote' in America which traditionally is cast between 12:00 am and 12:01 am by the small yet representative population of Dixville Notch:

Horoscope: Dixville Notch, NH 'First Vote' November 8, 2016 12:01 am EST; 1st quarter lunar phase = crisis in action

Hour of the Sun; Venus out-of-bounds (OOBs); Venus rules 3rd and 10th houses; ASC 1Vir00 with royal Regulus rising; MC (The Goal) @24Tau08 with golden Midas Rx and trickster Pan Rx in Gemini, 10th h; 3rd house Sun @16Sco13 conjunct voter Mercury which has just crossed the IC (one minute of voting and it's over!); 6th house Moon @20AQ47...'21AQ' = "A Woman Disappointed and Disillusioned" may be significant to our 2016 Venusian election tale.

As you see, Venus @25Sag13 has sashayed past austere (conservative) Saturn in mid-Sagittarius in the 4th house of Domestic Security, the Foundation of the Matter, and she glances back as the Evening Star and radiates her favor upon conservative Saturn, planet of law, government, business--and the US Congress (lawmakers, senators, and such.) Plus, evaluating attracter Venus is disposited by political and banking planet Jupiter in 2nd house of Money and Values. Additionally, Venus and Jupiter are in a Mutual Reception of friendliness with Jupiter prominent as lead planet of a Locomotive pattern (high powered executive ability and a drive to success.) Jupiter approaches US natal Saturn (14Lib48) so we may expect a conservative slant to the proceedings on Election Day 2016 with optimist Jupiter bringing US Saturn hard work structured toward reaching goals, an increase of responsibility, a deeper awareness of needed changes, and a chance to turn ideas and ideals into reality as a long-held ambition is achieved.

For the hidden manipulator, wealthy Pluto @15Cap22 here he's posited in the 5th house of Speculation, Risk-Taking, and Creative Pursuits along with activist Mars, the warrior, @29Cap14, a critical 29th degree which has a revealing Sabian Symbol considering foreign investors set freer than ever by SCOTUS' Citizens United ruling of 2010: "Directors of a Large Firm Meet in Secret Conference." For certain they do! This could easily be seen as a reference to plutocrats, transnational bankers, and even the pope (Pluto) meddling secretly from on high and utilizing testy actor Mars to instigate his schemes to control outcomes in business, law, and government (Capricorn.) Plus, with Mercury in big business Scorpio, we know that Mars and Pluto have a lot to say about what Mercury plans to do.

Mercury: the Voter, the Ballot, and our Thinking Processes

As chart-ruler and planet of voters and ballot-casting, Mercury @23Sco10 is near the Sun (6S56) and may not see issues as objectively as needed. Mercury rises on November 8th with starry Ras Alhague with its imperative to 'create balance' so we may assume that American voters may attempt balance of our political system in our traditional way--but switching parties in the White House lest our country lean too far from 'center' after 8 years of a Democratic White House. Venus in Sagittarius supports a change to someone 'different' though this may describe several of the varied 2016 candidates--even Donald Trump, if his nontraditional campaign style gets him all the way to November 8, 2016 (ed: Senator Bernie Sanders is also 'someone different'.) Plus, one of the asteroids of transition and change, Proserpina, is rising on the Mutable (thus, changeable) Virgoan horizon so a different style and/or political party seems to be exactly what Dixville Notch voters prefer in 2016...and the rest of America as well.

As for chart-ruler Mercury's major applying aspects, there are none but there is a square from the Moon (the public) in 6th house (Military, Police, Civil Service) in America's natal Moon sign, Aquarius. Moon-Mercury square indicates blockage between head (logic) and heart (emotions) which is a time-tested political tactic to confuse the public. This horoscope leans toward Fixed-Earth energies and we think of stubborn, possessive Taurus, sign of the Bull of Wall Street which seems to favor GOP candidates more than progressive Democrats (not that Hillary Clinton is a genuine progressive! That would be Senator Bernie Sanders), and of course, what planet rules greedy Taurus?

Even for all that, it is tempting to say that the cyclical Venus Effect on US Presidential Election 2016 must obviously favor a female victor, unless dirty tricks and arm-twisting backroom deals skew results. But as you see, Venus here plays the role of Evening Star and points toward a change of ruling party in the White House in 2016, a portent which can be satisfied by a Republican victor--and doubly so with one such as former CEO Carly Fiorina, a lady Republican and corporatist.

Yet if a Fiorina victory is too disconcerting for you (and hard to believe), there is at least one other possibility shown for "the other" to be favored by Venus in the person of Senator Marco Rubio for on November 8, 2016 the 'social ladder climber' power asteroid Hidalgo @00AQ03 conjoins the January 20, 2017 US Inaugural Sun, mundane significator of The President. This factor supports the potential for a Republican--perhaps a member of Congress--taking the White House throne in 2016 since the 'king star' Regulus @00Virgo rises and is the starry representative of the Capitol Building in L'Enfant's original plan for the construction of Washington DC's *Federal Triangle (see below.) Regulus may also signify a candidate who has held office on Capitol Hill--even VP Biden fulfills that role.

Actually, the Cycle of Venus timing 'the other' as victor in 2016 possibly may be satisfied by someone like Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described socialist of a democratic persuasion. Is he different enough for Venus with his political views quite apart from establishment politicians--those we may call "the old guard" as denoted by status quo Saturn? Or will it take a change of political party to satisfy Lady Venus?

Update Oct 15th: after watching the Oct 13th Democratic debate, the performance of Hillary Clinton now identifies her as one who could possibly satisfy 'the other' imperative of Venus in Sagittarius as "someone different" (as pundits are saying)--the first female president of the United States. Yet I dread the Clinton baggage she'd carry for the Republicans would never shut up about it and let the issues of the American people take precedence over partisan politics. Republicans are so very very tiresome and Democrats only somewhat better for both have played large roles in the weakening of our democracy and the undermining of our Constitution.

Now if these considerations seem arbitrary or too iffy for you, perhaps it's because you know that many more events will occur between today (July 23, 2015) and Election 2016 and circumstances will change. On the cosmic list are Solar and Lunar Eclipses, and New and Full Moons which can affect matters in similar fashion to 'wild card' eclipses. Or does Astrology have nothing valuable to offer Politics as far as you're concerned?

Be that as it may, Election Day 2016 Astrology and Politics will again be a topic here on Stars Over Washington in the future and my hope is that you'll think to return to SO'W soon in case new information turns up or new perspectives become necessary to discuss. More natal planet info of Republican and Democratic candidates is to be added as well though not all exact birth times are to be found online. Here are a few I've posted so far, in no particular order:

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton here and here (includes her Fist of God or Thor's Hammer pattern), Senator Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump here and here and--uh oh!--he was born with Regulus rising!

Related reading: Solar and Lunar Eclipses of 2015--2017.

~:~

*Federal Triangle: The White House = Arcturus (a different approach), the Washington Monument = Spica (the spike), and the Capitol Building = Regulus (success if revenge is avoided) for it's As Above, So Below, as the Founders and Builders of Washington DC well knew as their plan for the District reflected the stars above upon the earth below.

A Jupiter-Saturn Astro-Note: in Mundane Astrology Saturn and Jupiter, the societal planets, can handily represent the Democrats and the Republicans in various circumstances since both parties tend to alternate wearing restriction-and-expansion caps at will. Most often it's the Republican Party that insists on austerity measures (miserly Saturn) even though they are members of the Grand (Jupiter) Old (Saturn) Party. Of course, they spend lavishly like Jupiterians when they're in the White House or when the largess is for themselves or for the military, weaponry, and other things that make them mega-bucks via their stock portfolios and bribes from lobbyists and billionaire donors. It's that Saturn urge that wants to 'shrink the US government small enough so we can drown it in a bathtub', said Grover Norquist whose noon Natal Chart with details may be viewed here.

Note that Mr. Norquist is the midst of a Saturn Return and that his natal Jupiter in Virgo (planet of money, corporations, funding, investment, growth, politicians, preachers, teachers, mentors, military generals, etc) conjoins fixed star Denebola, keywords: to go against society.

Yet as the older of the two parties, Democrats also play Saturnian roles in US politics while playing generous Jupiter when it comes to Social Safety Net Programs, and promoting investment, development, and growth. Naturally, humankind needs the concepts of both Jupiter and Saturn to balance one another and thus, moderation is achieved. Too bad restriction and investment are so often used as cynical talking points to stall opponents' advancement while keeping any progress whatsoever from moving ahead which might benefit the American people. jc

Senator Bernie Sanders: Reversing Reaganomics

Bernie Sanders answers a caller's question on how to reverse Reaganomics.

#ThomHartmann #Reaganomics #BernieSanders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKmVXw2P0c&sns=em