Mercury Retrograde Renders Sarah Palin Even More Incoherent

Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin had trouble navigating through an interview with Katie Couric -- and there was the 700 billion dollar bailout resolution which couldn't have come at a worse time: Astrologer Liz Rose knows why and explains how the stars influence even our national politics.

It's that time again, when Mercury, the planet of communication, is in retrograde, a time when Mercury appears to be moving backward, at least from our perspective on Earth. This phenomenon, which occurs about three times a year for about three weeks is notorious for communications gone awry. People have trouble expressing themselves and making themselves understood, just because normal thought processes tend to be out of sync with the standard progression of events.

Other manifestation of Mercury Retrograde are delays in plans due to the need to review, rethink or reanalyze a situation that doesn't have real clarity at the moment. Today's particular Mercury Retrograde period began on Sept. 24 and will continue until Oct. 15, though its influences can already be felt days before and after the two cusp dates. Though the entire period is challenging for communications, travel and decision-making, the day of, before and after the two cusp dates (in this case, Sept. 23 - 25 and Oct. 14 - 16) are especially chaotic, leading to poor expression, incoherence and misunderstandings. Those who watched the video clip of Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin's rambling and disjointed interview with Katie Couric on September 25 witnessed this.

But overshadowing this interview was the 700 billion dollar bailout resolution, which could not have come at a worst time. Proposed just as Mercury was preparing to retrograde, the plan had no chance for quick approval. Delays, misunderstandings, review and reanalysis should only have been expected, as Mercury changing directions tends to impede the natural flow and progression of communication and decision-making. To get a more clear picture of Mercury Retrograde, one must only recall words beginning with re: restart, resume, review, renegotiate, rethink, retract, reschedule, etc. It's the best time for reevaluation and the worst time for initiating and making major decisions. (Decisions made during Mercury Retrograde tend to have to be revised or renegotiated at a later date, due to misunderstandings.)

After many recesses, it seemed the rescue plan, or resolution, would finally pass, after much review, several renegotiated points and resounding reminders of a disastrous recession from the Oracle of Omaha. Instead, it was rejected and there is talk of a re-vote.

Perusing news headlines around Sept. 24 and 25, typical Mercury Retrograde fare included the following: the recall of Chinese products, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain's attempt to renege on the first Presidential debate (which was rebuffed by Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama), photographer Bert Stern suing for the return of Marilyn photos, the resuming of talks on the Bailout Plan, and a computer glitch that delayed UK flights. (Mercury retrograde is also infamous for electronic or mechanical breakdown and delays.)

Then there was the Katie Couric-Sarah Palin interview which took place on Sept. 25, the day after Mercury turned retrograde. Viewers who caught Palin in her network debut with ABC's Charlie Gibson on September 11 (safely out of the Mercury Retrograde period) had no trouble perceiving Sarah Palin's inability to formulate logical answers to straight-forward questions, if she even answered the questions at all. But the Katie Couric interview of Sept. 25, in which Palin was even more confused, illogical and adrift, helped to re-establish what viewers probably began to suspect after seeing her interview with Gibson: not only does she have great difficulty clarifying herself and answering questions, she is ignorant about global affairs, does not understand many significant issues at a deeper level and is unqualified to hold the high office of VP.

The Couric-Palin video clip, which is being replayed over and over again, even eliciting Youtubed heated remarks from celebrity Matt Damon, will remain in the minds of reluctant Americans as they do what comes naturally during a Mercury Retrograde period: rethink, reassess, and reanalyze, in this case, the prospect of Sarah Palin as VP (and the previously conceived notion that she is bright and charismatic). A blessing for the Obama team, Palin's interview should help Obama re-establish a firm lead in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, Palin should use this Mercury Retrograde period to reread her notes, review important doctrines and current/past foreign policy decision, rethink her answers to inevitable questions (it's a good time to retool her Russian foreign policy rhetoric, too) before the Vice Presidential debate on October 2 (if it is not rescheduled) and reflect more deeply before opening her mouth and making embarrassing gaffes. Her aides, too, should take advantage of this period to regroup, rethink the Sarah Palin effect, retrain her where necessary and review ways to help Palin restore the self-confidence she displayed during her strong (scripted) performance at the Republican convention. (A repeat of Palin's muddled responses during the upcoming debate with Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden could lead to more whispers of replacing Palin on the ticket.)

Once Mercury is back in full-swing forward motion around Oct. 19, most Americans will have made the decision about which candidate to vote for on November 4th. But, until then, we are still in a period of reassessment.

One thing is certain during this particular Mercury retrograde period- McCain is harboring serious regrets about having chosen Sarah Palin as running mate.

Liz Rose is a member of the American Federation of Astrologers, the author of Beddazled! An Astrological Guide to Earthly Bliss With Your Man (translated into four foreign languages) and is a part-time resident of NYC. She is registered as an Independent.

Comments

[Badbone]

Mercury has been in retrograde two other times this year. Like for instance, this March. During those times, were there other ways that communications went awry?

[LizRose11]

It was end of January/part of February, actually. In the lives of people around me, there was a higher incidence of minor communication snafus back then. But the effects of Mercury Retrograde are most remarkable to the greater public when the period coincides with significant, mediatized events which call for clarity or decision-making. Remember the Presidential Election of 2000 (and its aftermath)? It occured the day before Mercury changed direction- so, one of the most chaotic days of the entire period. (Do the words "recall" and "recount" ring a bell?)

[DominiqueT]

Enjoyed this article: it's a good analysis and it was fun reading!

[roblepo]

Very interesting analysis. Bravo!

[LizRose11]

Thanks. More to come.

[joebiz]

Liz, you're really good looking.

From what you claim, the stars can tell us what happened in the past, what happens in the present, and what will happen in the future. If this is so, why then when people suffer heart attacks or get hit by a bus the stars aren't able to predict this?

[LizRose11]

Thanks Joe. Your silhouette is very appealing , too.

The "stars" cannot predict exact events. Rather, they are more indicative of trends. Misfortune, of the kind you wrote, often occurs when there are very stressful aspects being made to the planets in one's natal chart. (But the possibilities are so vast that it is not even worth trying to "predict " what could happen.) I think it's helpful to be able to anticipate more challenging times in the future so one can modify one's behavior (just as it's empowering to be made aware of more auspicious times to come) .

I hope I am making myself clear during this Mercury Retrograde period!

[Nommo]

Astrology is perhaps best understood as a timing device as well as an indicator of trends, both private and public. Every one's life has a rhythm. It is not unlike one who monitors tides before putting out to sea. Or fishermen who follow moon phases. Nancy Reagan made a pretty masterful use of it during her husband's presidency. It ain't what you say, its when you say it.

[joebiz]

Thanks for your response and admiring my silhouette.

I'm trying to understand astrology and how it's proponents use it. Could you answer this?

Distances: As anyone who has taken introductory physics should know, the force of gravity goes with the inverse square of the distance... ie., the further a body is from you, the less it will affect you. Remember how far away Earth is from the Sun, Moon, and planets (hint: MILLIONS of miles). Depending on whether one uses Astonomical Units or AU, Mercury is about 36,000,000 miles away.

Though the person who delivered you at birth may be much less massive than any celestial body, they are much closer and would certainly affect you more than the positions of the planets. Including the "trends" these planets are suposed to predict?

Don't you agree?

[JSM222]

I commend you and your honesty to not censor the comments. Fair and balanced.

[JSM222]

In 1999 a gruesome discovery was made that an Illinois hospital was shelving babies to die in a soiled utility room who had survived their abortions.

The Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act was introduced in 2001 to provide legal protection to all born babies, wanted or not, including the right to medical care.

Then-state Senator Barack Obama voted against Born Alive 4 times in 3 years and was the sole senator to speak against it on the Senate floor in 2001 and 2002.

http://realchoice.blogspot.com/2008/09/obama-and-born-alive-babies.html

[wheresthebeef]

Soiled utility rooms can survive abortion? Who knew?

[cgr]

lol

[hartkid]

That's the only logical explanation. Good work!