Jane '08 and the Austen Dream Team

Good things come in threes. Three Bears. Three Lord of the Rings movies. Three volumes of Pride and Prejudice. … And now, three Jane '08 videos.

Yes, it's a trilogy, and no, my candidate is not ready to concede.

Check it out. Tell your friends. Share, embed, and spread the word.

If you missed the first two videos, here's the first one. And the second.

Remember: It's not over till every vote is counted and the woman in the bonnet and spencer gets sworn in.

So onward to the White House! And I don't mean Mrs. Norris's sad little crib. I'm talking Pemberley on the Potomac. Bath on the Beltway. State dinners with English country dances. Cabinet members in knee breeches. Which reminds me…

The dream team is now being assembled:

• Vice President: Mr. Darcy (a favorite in both red states and blue, and not like the wild young men now-a-days, who think of nothing but themselves)

• White House Chief of Staff: Emma Woodhouse (never loth to be first)

• Press Secretary: Miss Bates (is sure to say three things very dull indeed as soon as ever she gives a press briefing)

• Secretary of Defense: Mr. Bingley (so complying, so easy, and so generous, that there will never be another war)

• Secretary of State:  Mr. Knightley (anyone who could live at Hartfield with Emma and Mr. Woodhouse must be qualified for high-level foreign relations)

• Secretary of Treasury: Mrs. Norris (because she shall not be ashamed to practise economy now)

• Attorney General: Lady Catherine de Bourgh (a most active magistrate).

• Secretary of the Interior: Mrs. Elton (her first act will be to organize exploring parties to all national parks with the Sucklings in their barouche-landau)

• Secretary of Commerce: Caroline Bingley (It's about time she faced up to the fact that her family fortune was made in trade)

• Secretary of Health and Human Services: Mr. Woodhouse (devising a universal healthcare plan that includes daily doses of gruel—thin, but not too thin—and  an egg, boiled very soft, by Serle)

• Secretary of Labor: Edward Ferrars (understands the consequence of ignorance of the world--and want of employment)

• Secretary of Transportation: Fanny Price (will ensure that everyone has her own horse)

• Secretary of Energy: Elizabeth Bennet-Darcy (if she can walk three miles to Netherfield, she's got energy to spare)

• Secretary of Education: Mrs. Bennet (it's about time she became a slave to someone's education)

If you have your own ideas about who should serve at the pleasure of President Austen (I rather like the sound of that), do enter your suggestions in the comments section below.

By the way, a little sidebar on author videos: Check out this hilarious one by Seth Greenland, , which came to my attention via Ron Hogan at Galleycat,  who is one of my favorite bloggers and who is always posting updates on the funniest and most innovative author vids. Like this one. And this one.
Does this have anything to do with Jane Austen? Not unless you count the fact that Ron definitely knows his Austen, as evidenced by the title of this post,  which featured the first Jane '08 video.

Comments

[TheresaB]

Just stumbled across this.... it's a Jane font! Fun!

http://www.dailyfreefonts.com/fonts/infos/1907-Jane-Austen.html

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

Hi, Rachel. What age are your students? I imagine teaching Austen in high school or middle school could be challenging; some of my younger readers have expressed their desire to immerse themselves in Austen but are having a hard time cracking the code initially.

[Rachel Hamby]

Hey, I'm an English teacher, and I find this quite humorous. I think this is a great resource. I love Jane Austen and think she would fully agree with all your cabinet suggestions.

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

What a cool idea, Christina. None of the usual b.s., and plenty of comedy. Not something we've come to expect from White House press briefings. I believe Madame President would approve, for what do we live, but to make sport for our constituents, and laugh at them in our turn?

[Christina]

How about Mary Crawford as press secretary? She's blunt -- and not at all politically correct in her statements. She herself admits to being selfish and that is a trait one must always forgive, as there is never any cure for it. I think she would be so refreshing!

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

I have to agree with you, Laurel Ann. Mary should have the chance to teach the Mr. and Mrs. Bennets of the world that there's a better way of managing one's daughters than humiliating them at the Netherfield Ball! Though I do think Mary would also love having the power as Secretary of the Arts to exhibit her talents on any occasion she pleases.

[Laurel Ann]

As President, I dare say that Miss Austen will want to create a Secretary of Deportment, since I am quite certain that propriety will rule her White House. I would like to nominate Mary Bennet, because "every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason" and "exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."

Who could ask for more?

If not, she would also make a very good Secretary of the Arts, and could sing at the ignagural ball!

Cheers, Laurel Ann

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

Hi, Terry--these are fabulous suggestions! Yes, I believe Emma does owe Robert Martin her vote after all she put him through, and he would be perfect for the job. Especially as Knightley will have his hands full at Hartfield with two troublesome creatures to please.

As for Jane Fairfax, that does sound like a job she would enjoy, but I do worry about her delicate state of health...

[Terry Hubener]

Secretary of Agriculture: Mr. Martin - a respetable, intelligent gentleman-farmer, perhaps able of influencing Emma to vote for him.

Postmaster General: Jane Fairfax - She is not afrraid of the rain and will fetch all letters with great charm. Letters are always worth going through the rain for.

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

Yes, please. Mission accomplished indeed! Capt. Wentworth it is. He can have whichever position he chooses. (And I didn't mean that to sound like a double entendre...) Sorry, Mrs. Norris. If he wants Secretary of the Treasury, then it's back to that remote cottage for you with your wayward niece.

[Caroline Christian]

May I nominate Frederick Wentworth for Secretary of the Treasury ?

A man who knows the value of personal income and investing money properly.

(ok, maybe head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ?)

"Mission accomplished" takes on a whole new meaning.

Plus Bingley is gonna need some able assistance in his
job.

Many thanks for the laugh.

- Caroline