JOHN HUNTSMAN, Presidential Candidate

Had John Huntsman entered the presidential race as an Independent rather than a Republican I might have thought seriously of giving him my vote. He looks, to me, like the best of a bad lot (and that includes the incumbent president!)

As I wrote in an earlier post featuring Michele Bachmann, the presidential election really comes down to which personality one prefers as a figurehead, a brand, a logo, for the nation. Whoever wins, the true power, behind the presidential throne, will not change. Call it what you like - Oligarchy, Plutocracy, Corporatocracy - the US isn't a true democracy any longer.

With Huntsman running as an Independent many disaffected Democrats might have considered voting for Huntsman, if he talked a good game. Anyway, that's not happening....if wishes were horses beggars would ride!

Huntsman's birth detail including time of birth is available at The Political Blog. He was born at 11:58 am on March 26th, 1960 in Palo Alto, California. Chart and notes on astrology follow.

First, a few factors which could help or harm Huntsman's run.

He's not too old, not too young, attractive and "looks the part".

He is a Morman

He comes from a wealthy background - father is a billionaire businessman.

Served a Morman mission in Taiwan, speaks fluent Mandarin

Worked as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan, and he was appointed by George H.W. Bush as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and later as United States Ambassador to Singapore from 1992-1993.

Served 2 terms as Governor of Utah. While maintaining a budget surplus pushed hard on a broad reform agenda, with positive results. He helped lower the state's sales tax on food, re-structured the work week for state employees and made changes to the state's health care system that sought to lower the number of uninsured. During his tenure Utah was named the "Best Managed State in America" by Pew Research Center.

President Obama appointed him US Ambassador to China in 2009.

Sun and Moon in Aries = a pioneer, an initiator, a leader, in both heart and head. He'll have energy to spare, and would not be afraid of "taking the gloves off" faced with aggressive opposition.

Venus and Mercury in gentle intuitive Pisces bring a fine balance to his "harder" Aries side - I like that!

Mars in Aquarius should represent a fighter for social reform. Whereas Republicans generally are not known for true social reform, in his case I suspect he's drawn, at least somewhat, in this direction.

Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn clearly mark his conservatism and air of authority. Saturn in its sign of rulership is particularly clear on this.

What I especially like in this chart is a Yod (Finger of Fate) with Uranus in Leo (planet of change and the avant garde) at its apex. The Yod links sextiled planets Mercury/Venus and Saturn to Uranus via two quincunx (150 degree) aspects. Characteristics of the planet at apex are said to "flavour" blended attributes of the sextiled planets. In this case planet of change and new ideas is the channel through which are blended Huntsman's conservative/authoritative/communicative/emotional/intuitive characteristics. For those of us who long for change, here's someone to watch!

Transiting Uranus is passing through Aries at present, and already passed his natal Moon once in March, (possibly around the time he decided to make a change in his lifestyle and run as candidate?) Uranus will retrograde back over his Moon later this year and will transit his natal Sun next year and on into 2013. Evidence of change, of some kind. His campaign will be a change of lifestyle in itself, of course. Though the presence of Uranus doesn't indicate success, it does seem significant that its transit will be so close to his Sun (self).

Transiting Pluto (planet of transformation) in Capricorn will not be near Huntsman's natal Jupiter until 2016. If at first he does not succeed, there's always 2016!