Having finally streamed the entire Republican debate from last Tuesday, I see why the papers thought Mitt Romney looked good. He got all the questions.

As front-runner, at the time, it makes sense the debate would focus on Romney. However, Charlie Rose, moderator and cantankerous control freak, clipped off any two-way dialogue where one participant or moderator challenged another. For me, that’s where it becomes interesting.

It was clear that Rose was taping a show, not moderating a debate.

If there is a God, I pray that he allow Christopher Hitchens to moderate the next debate. This would make for a great, and real, debate and also prove to Hitchens that there is a God.

Rick Santorum

One candidate I would have liked to hear more of is Rick Santorum. He had something to say. But Uncle Charlie practically slapped him in the face to get him to shut up.

As a gift to Santorum, I devote the rest of this blog expressly to him.

That Santorum can fight for himself, and the right to speak during a debate where he is an ostensible candidate, is clear from his chart, which is filled with determined and strong fixed signs.

Santorum has sun in the fixed earth sign of Taurus and moon in the fixed air sign of Aquarius. Pluto in fixed fire Leo opposes the moon. That is Ohio Astrology’s “mark of a politician.”

Having that mark means the need to control the environment is great. If you didn’t want to control the environment, you wouldn’t run for president. Politics is part of the personality, not something encountered in the world.

Moon in Aquarius is an odd duck. This is why the Ohio Astrology debate prep sheet suggested that Santorum try to connect the dots on his ideas. Aquarius is a mental, visionary sign that sees connections between ideas that others don’t even believe fall into the same category.

Taurus as a sign is in some ways simple – there is right and wrong, good and bad. Just do right and good and everything will be okay. Aquarius is the sign to me of “the perfect universe.” Combined, this is a man who has holds a very strong image of “how things should be.”

How things should be doesn’t just include politics. He probably gives lectures on how to put the cap back on the tube of toothpaste.

The combination of Taurus and Aquarius creates aloofness and detachment. That’s not so fun in a one-on-one relationship, but can work well in politics. This is one who can stomach “the ugly” to focus on the goal.

Mars in Pisces lends a little empathy to an otherwise detached person. He can feel your pain, but he won’t indulge in it or suggest that you do. Ultimately to appeal to Santorum you must appeal to ideas of right and wrong.

Saturn in Sagittarius suggests that Santorum doesn’t always see the big picture or a bigger meaning unless it already corresponds to his beliefs. This trait, you might say, is common, but it is very strong with Santorum.

Mercury and Venus are in Aries in Santorum’s chart. Aries is the aggressive warrior which is why Santorum was able point out to the cranky Rose that he’d only had one question.

Uranus is currently transiting Aries so Santorum’s love life and speech are going to become more erratic. Or possibly his speech about his love life.  Or maybe his love life will speak about him.

Who knows with astrology?

Saturn in Libra is transiting Santorum’s Jupiter in Libra – another indicator of some issues with the loved one. Maybe the loved one isn’t cooperating with Santorum’s role in the perfect universe?

I wish we could have heard more last Tuesday on Santorum’s universe. In his brief moment of speech, he asked for the audience’s response (rather than the camera’s response). That’s true Aquarian moon – ask the people.

Hopefully next debate, if Santorum shows up, will allow him more time to speak. I’m a liberal so I think everyone invited to the party should have a chance to talk, not just the front runners. I’m also of the left-wing notion that challenges between the candidates is a good thing. If they were all the same, there would be no need for a debate.

Please, Charlie Rose, stay home.