by Judith Gayle
After three months of Saturn dinking around in the last degrees of Scorpio, the Lord of Karma is racing through Sagittarius, fanning fires, taking necessary twists and turns and delivering the logical consequences of our actions. Case in point? Just when you thought the torpor of the American political process couldn’t get worse, it did.
All the anxiety over the government going unfunded again — the previous shutdown of this decade costing multi-billions in lost revenue — has fallen back to sheer amazement over the train wreck that is the House of Representatives.
I would have said leadership in the House, but a) there isn’t any, and b) it isn’t the leaders that are the current challenge. When John Boehner threw in the towel, no longer willing to try to bring his fractured party members together, he made plain his dilemma: the fringe of his membership had gone delusional, born in the cradle of FOX News paranoia and dedicated to achieving things they couldn’t possibly deliver without damaging the nation along with their party’s brand.
John called them ‘false prophets,’ which accurately captures the religious zealotry with which they’ve pursued that end. This is the same internal fracture that has resulted in the current crew of Republican presidential candidates, all but one or two of them unsuitable for national leadership.
Boehner had trusted the Republicans down the line to pick up the slack. Pubs are known for their ability to maintain a stable of likely prospects, groomed, well-financed and able to step up when it’s their turn at the gate. But that tradition has broken down since our Dubby was handed the presidency by errant Supremes. And that was before the Bagger movement fractured party priorities, and prior to the advent of the radical and unyielding Freedom Caucus.
The House Freedom Caucus is composed of the hard-core zealots who fly in the face of compromise of any sort, blaming Establishment politicians like Boehner for making any attempt to govern. They did not come to Washington to keep government running, they came to kill the beast — and they’ll take down anyone who gets in their way. While the Caucus itself is small, it carries a big stick: primary challenge. This has turned out to be a surprisingly effective tool to keep even old-timers like John McCain and Lindsey Graham in line with radical goals.
Boehner’s presumptive replacement, Kevin McCarthy, stumbled badly when he admitted that the Benghazi investigations had been successful in lowering Hillary’s popularity numbers, creating accusations of excessive and expensive ‘gotcha’ politics from the left and of sheer political ineptitude on the right. It’s also worth noting that rumors of sexual mischief on McCarthy’s part poisoned the water with the Caucus, who issue regular purity tests to their colleagues. Given all that, it’s no surprise McCarthy decided to pass, declaring the Baggers “ungovernable.”
The last time we had such a defection upon resignation of a speaker, we got House Speaker Tom DeLay, a bug exterminator from Texas who professed to know the mind of Gawd Almighty and George W. Bush, and served both faithfully in attempting to dismantle what was left of the common good established as The Great Society. His blanket refusal to consider any concerns of the minority party defined a period when the Republican machine simply rolled over anything in its path, paving the way toward the morass we find ourselves in today.
Since then, we have made little progress toward restoring economic equity to the public or mending our tattered social programs, and the Freedom Caucus has plans to make that even more painful for us all. Some say this is that place where the fabric rips beyond mending, where the Republican party becomes so regressive that the average American can no longer trust them to deliver on their behalf, and perhaps it is so. It’s difficult to see how they find common cause with those who want government to run efficiently — or run at all, at this point.
Anyone can become House leader; it does not require congressional membership. Some have suggested Mitt Romney could fill Boehner’s shoes. Some have said why not tap outgoing retirees to take the job, short-term, since they wouldn’t be forced to pay the price later (being primaried and replaced by someone farther to their right.) Insiders are begging Paul Ryan to step in, although Ryan has made it clear that he prefers digging into the complex minutia of the tax code to riding herd on Baggers — and this despite a loud and well-orchestrated plea from Establishment conservatives, terrified of any other outcome. Indeed, the few adults in the conservative party who see governance as an actual process, rather than a scourge on society, are beside themselves.
Nobody wants the job of House speaker, or almost nobody. You will probably not be surprised to discover that Newt Gingrich volunteered to step in for the good of the party and nation. And news today indicates that right-wing Pub enforcer Darrel Issa is considering the prospect of running to herd zealots, which isn’t much of a stretch since Darrel has spent a lifetime — much as has FOX’s Roger Ailes — creating them.
Issa has a long and checkered past, the kind that earned him a place on the CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) list of most-corrupt politicians even before he hit the tragedy in Benghazi like an ill wind. As Charmian of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, his select committee witch hunt of AG Holder’s failed Fast and Furious weapons experiment — while coming to little except expense and wasted time — earned him a favored place among the radicals, but few friends in Establishment politics. His tireless vendetta against all things Obama, as well as the IRS, sweetens the deal on the far-right. Interestingly, Issa was replaced on Oversight by none other than Jason Chaffetz, the ideologue who was determined to go up against McCarthy’s bid for speaker. Darrel’s been looking for a better fit since, and — always an opportunist — he seems to think he’s found one.
Yes, as a politician, Issa is dangerous. As speaker, that would be an understatement: Darrel siding with the radicals to bring the “real fiscal reform they’ve been denied by the K Street, if you will, influence.” Read that: government shutdown. But no matter who takes this position, this is the Republican Party’s moment of implosion. It’s not going to get better from here.
This kind of musical chairs is just so much internal busy-ness to those who consider Establishment politics a waste of time and energy, but it takes on a different gravitas when you consider how far up the leadership pecking order House Speaker actually is. Put plainly, as a piece over at PoliticusUSA was titled, “A Tea Party Fascist Will Be Second In Line To the Presidency By Halloween.” Perhaps this is worth our attention after all!
As of now, nobody knows how this situation will shake out. But it seems part of our explosive astrology, this fine mess coming right on time, predicted and expected and, some would say, part of the purge that is separating the gold from the dross on the evolutionary scale, tearing the blinders off all but the deliberately ignorant and fearful. Politics is a mirror — an overview — of the dysfunctional relationship dynamics that play out in our private lives, from our boardrooms to our bedrooms. We’re getting a very well-deserved look at ourselves, and it ain’t pretty.
Perhaps this is the part where realization comes flooding in, where we face ourselves and grow up a little. Perhaps we can get real, surrender our hubris and arrogance and dance where karma leads us. Karma, a.k.a. that long, slow, earned and needed learning curve that sensitizes us to all we would project onto others. Karma, the often painful experience that must eventually lead to renewed understanding and synthesis.
Getting a grip on how perfectly positioned we are to get that glimpse of reality might provide us a breakthrough, if we’re willing. Truly, if the Phoenix is to rise out of these ashes, we need to acknowledge how much has burnt down. What is not sustainable, not ethical nor compassionate, must be released, and a new template for the future put in place. That is the work ahead.
As our Len tells us in his latest piece, we’re poised on “the grandmother of fresh starts” this coming Monday morning. If enough of us have learned the steps to the dance, aware of what must be left behind, consigned to the past — if enough of us are eager to create our future in harmlessness and collaboration, ethics restored, hearts open and mindfulness engaged — it will be an excellent beginning.
As we are released from old errors and unworkable decisions, progress is assured. And it’s comforting to remember that it’s only a small number of the planets population that is thwarting our desire to create a prosperous and peaceful world. As it was with each of us, those who aren’t ready for change are still learning the dance, held safely in the patient arms of the Lord of Karma, who knows all the steps.
Thank you again for the reassurance Jude. . “it’s only a small number of the planet’s population that is thwarting our desire to create a prosperous and peaceful world.” Still, I would like the names of those 1 or 2 Republican presidential candidates you alluded to who ARE suitable for Nat’l leadership. Just in case.
I have a hunch, not really a theory, that the answers we seek can be found in the sixties era, when Uranus and Pluto met in Virgo. There had been a new 20 year societal cycle start in the early 60’s, a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at 25+ Capricorn, where transiting Ceres recently sat for weeks before, during and after the solar eclipse in Virgo a month ago. But it is Haumea, the dwarf planet whose transit recently opposed transiting Uranus while they simultaneously made conjunctions with the U.S. opposition between Chiron (trans. Uranus) and Juno (trans. Haumea) that has me in a kind of dance following the bread crumbs.
One reason is that the cycle between Haumea and Uranus started in the 60’s, and now they are mid-way through it and lighting up our own country’s natal opposition of Juno to Chiron. Another reason is that the U.S. progressed Haumea at 8+ Sagittarius is now opposite the U.S. natal Sibly chart’s Uranus at 8+ Gemini. Coincidence? Phil Sedgwick says “above all, Haumea goes for the creative”, and Haumea with Uranus is unpredictable creativity.
As the transiting Uranus in Aries opposes the Sun-Moon (conjunct U.S. Juno) in Monday’s Libra New Moon, a New Moon that trines the U.S. natal Sibly Mars in Gemini, and as well, trines the PROGRESSED U.S. Mercury in Aquarius (who is stationing direct), it all becomes an astrological pattern called a kite. A grand trine in which one of the 3 planets has an opposition defines a Kite pattern, and that opposing planet, in this case transiting Uranus, motivates the planet opposed, in this case the New Moon (+ Sun) at 19+ Libra (and the U.S. Juno at 20+ Libra, which trans. Haumea recently sat upon like it was a chick in an egg). A motivated New Moon that’s the focus of a grand air trine/Kite is a powerful thing.
Whatever creative idea the House Pubs come up with regarding their leadership person will possibly hearken back to the 60’s in some way, and perhaps their plan will foster some movement toward equality in some way that shocks them. Now, wouldn’t that be fun?
Of course this New Moon opposite Uranus and all the ramifications it carries (like Mercury conjunct the U.S MC, and the Super Galactic Center and transiting Logos and the North Node. . ) will provide unexpected creativity for us all, and I for one would love to slow dance with Saturn.
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Well, I didn’t say any of the candidates on the right would do well by the American people, be, but at least Bush, Rubio and Kasich aren’t barking mad. We might be able to live through their tenure — not well, of course.
Ted Cruz’ name came up several times today as the likely inheritor of Donald’s minions (when the time comes) and as someone who has collected a lot of dough from both religious and business backers — that’s barking mad with a vengeance.
And in editing I snipped out this bit, about Issa, which will tell you what I think about the only lady candidate:
“I will admit a particular dislike for this man. Issa has all the charm of a snake oil salesman combined with the instincts of a piranha. Having sprung from the conservative conclave in California’s North County (San Diego,) he’s not a new face on my radar. To my mind, he’s the male version of Carley Fiorna — a slick, insincere and pretentious mix of narcissism, ambition and corruption, willing to twist the truth to make himself look good, no matter the price.”
Ted, Darrel and Carley are ALL too oily to suit me.
Maybe the shocking, creative plan will look something like this, be — here’s a fascinating article (if you’re wonkish at all) about Republican moderates (there ARE some, deeply cowed by the Rabid Right) pushing back toward bi-partisanship. They’ll have to if they’re going to get out of this mess.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/republican-moderates-democrats-revive-export-import-bank/409966/
I’ll ponder a 60s connection, Miss be — at the moment, it just seems to me that we came to new consensus, back in the day, because we were exhausted and disheartened, but that might be my Saturn/Sun transit talking. Thanks for your thoughts, as usual — with no innuendo or BS implied, you complete me. And there it is there.
” We’ll do the Twist, the Stomp, the Mash Potato(e) too, any old dance that you wanna do…so let’s dance!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cAZhW-WGs
Good one, Geoff! Here’s another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY1xhfTwGao:
(of the season)
Brilliant stuff. Whatever happened to novelty records? Makes me want to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show again.
RHS 40th anniversary dates us, kiddo — but here’s a fun picture of the cast now, and part of an article and video. Let’s do the Time Warp again!
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/07/rocky-horror-picture-show-reunion-ew
40 years ago … eeeek! Definitely time for another time warp. Where does it all go, eh?, sneaking past us second by second.
Jude, great journalistic piece! Thank you! This topic, interestingly enough, is not being sufficiently covered in the press but perhaps today being Sunday, the press will jump all over it. It’s important because it illustrates just how dysfunctional our society has become, as you so aptly described it:
“Politics is a mirror — an overview — of the dysfunctional relationship dynamics that play out in our private lives, from our boardrooms to our bedrooms. We’re getting a very well-deserved look at ourselves, and it ain’t pretty.” Exactly. First clue, the institution that we are (or should be) examining is called, “The House of Representatives.” Transparency breeds self-correcting behavior. As distasteful, disgusting and demoralizing it is for us to witness (and really to be a part of, since these folks are our representatives) to observe we must in order to have course corrections. Let all of the dirty laundry be aired! Let each of the Republican Leaders in the house throw down their gauntlets in frustration at the errant few, so that the American voters can observe the childish antics of not getting along in the sandbox! I don’t like it, and as you say, it ain’t pretty but there really is no way to dodge our choices. We get what we deserve, sadly but it also gives us an opportunity to do better. As the lovely former American Poet Laureate Maya Angelou said: “When you know better, you do better!” It’s time for America to know better so that it will make better choices. Couple the Republican behavior in the House with the antics of many of the Republicans on the election stump and by the time elections come around maybe (and God willing) the voters will know better so that they can choose better. We have to get through this phase to get there as painful and ugly (‘taint pretty) as it is!
Bobby Jindal was on Sunday Pundit TV today — as well as one of the 40 Freedom Caucus guys — both talking about how the Pubs just have to stick to their principals, push harder to do what they promised to do for “the American people,” and everything would be fine. Brings to mind Eric Cantor — next in line for the speakership when he was ousted by primary — who said, after the fact, “These people don’t seem to understand that Democrats get to vote too.”
To understand exactly what these creeps want, I’m taking a snip from Hullabaloo — gives a sense of the enormity of this issue. Check out the demands of what Tom Sullivan calls “a doomsday cult”:
http://www.digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-gotterdammerung-caucus-by.html
“The Freedom Caucus wants to guarantee its ability to use the threat of triggering a “recession comparable to or worse than 2008 financial crisis” over raising the debt ceiling to secure “significant structural entitlement reforms” (read: cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid).
“The Freedom Caucus wants the next Speaker to commit to passing “all 12 appropriations bills” (no omnibus) to maximize extremists’ ability to extract maximum concessions in extended fights over each one. And to commit to shutting down the government “unless President Obama (and Senate Democrats) agree to defund Obamacare, Planned Parenthood and a host of other priorities.” Or else they’ll hold their breath until our faces turn blue.”
Yikes! I think it’s time for the Reality Caucus to make itself heard, don’t you?
Last, not least, thanks to Amanda for rescuing me yesterday!
Thanks for your comments, Pisces Sun — meant that last to go under reply. We did get a look at the koo-koo’s today, and — from the left-leaners — a kind of bemused air of WTF … un-articulated but exchanged in knowing glances and half-smiles. Kind of hard to believe this is what we’ve come to.
Reminds me of the old joke about St. Peter making the Catholic newbie tip-toe past the door to the Baptist section, as they were unaware anyone else had ended up in Heaven.
Looks like the Freedom Caucus will be toast by Election 2020, as transiting Eris will no longer be in a quincunx with U.S. Neptune.. .not in our lifetimes anyway. Further, transiting Jupiter will be conjunct transiting Pluto, both sextile U.S Neptune.
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Hey Jude, those “last degrees of Scorpio” where Saturn was “dinking around” is where Bernie Sanders’ progressed Sun is right now. That might show up in the debate tomorrow night.
A couple of notes regarding the chart for the debate. I looked at it from the perspective of where it takes place, Las Vegas, and also from Washington DC. Saturn (2+ Sagittarius) in Las Vegas is in the 8th house (shared resources) and in Washington (where it will be seen with great interest) it will be exactly on the 7th house cusp (partners or open enemies), opposite the 1st house cusp of 2+ Gemini. Sanders’ natal Uranus is 0+ Gemini.
Clinton’s natal Jupiter is at 0+ Sagittarius, while Sanders’ natal Pallas is at 1+ (almost 2) Sagittarius and conjunct natal Hidalgo (0+ Sagittarius). Won’t THAT be interesting!
Ruler of chart’s ascendant when in Las Vegas is Mars in 6th house at 11+ Scorpio, while ruler of chart when seen in DC is Mercury in 5th house at 2+ Libra. Service when in Las Vegas, entertainment when in DC. Outcomes? The MC in Las Vegas is 4+ Capricorn and when in DC it is 9+ Aquarius. Place your bets ladies and gents.
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Mars will be conjunct Jupiter (who trines Pluto) while he loosely opposes Neptune. Mercury conjuncts the NN while exactly sextile Saturn.
The Moon at the start of the debate is at 1 Scorpio 25 and will probably reach Clinton’s natal Sun (2+ Scorpio) before the show is over.