Here is a shorter version. I have a Phd and read more in a day than most people do in a year ; I drink lattes every chance I can in some of the most god forsaken hard right neo fascist towns in America.

meme to Charles Murray. Go F*** yourself and your stupid ass commentary.

That is the way we talk on the drill site.

Plebe enough for you, asshole?

Do you have rich friends who hire you to put a culturally reactionary gloss on their predatory economic theories?

Hmmm?

What's the matter, Charles? Cat got your tongue?

What bigtuna said. Good one, Bubba! :)

The irony of all of this: Murray is at the top of the elite chain. First of all, do YOU know anyone who, outside of West Point, uses the word "plebe"? Do you know anyone who can tell you what "plebe" even means?
Second, the fact that a person with degrees from Harvard & MIT is bemoaning the "elitism" in America is beyond condescension - Murray, in his desire to appear as part of the plebian class, actually exposes himself as part of the patrician class.
& so what if a person has or hasn't been on a factory floor? Look around, Murray - most of our factory jobs have been outsourced to China where no unions are allowed and corporations can pay $0.02 per hour. So basically, Charles Murray, STFU.

What a dumb-ass non topic!

America is a melting pot; Grand Opera and Opry, bowling, wrasslin', and the America's Cup, Polkas and square dancing and cotillions.

It is what made America great, it's why people are risking life and limb to get here; legally or otherwise. Welcome them- or China will eat our lunch!

There needs to be a key to the test.

As pointed out on Balloon Juice, Rotary is Doctors, lawyers and businessmen and meets from noon to 1:30 on weekdays - kind of keeps out the cashiers and workers.

Plus, half of the no answers are 'non-elite' and half of the yes answers are.

I lived and worked in the Bronx most of my life. Does that make me an Elite?

I have my own definition of elitism--

If you believe that those of us who don't give a shit about NASCAR and the "Left Behind" books are elitists, then you're an elitist.

Scratch that. You're an asshole...and a smug one at that.

This "elitist" thing is pure smokescreen for the elitists of the far right. I'm not sure if even the most deranged teabagger considers any of this important. But, it keeps the "elitist" focus off of people who shutter factories and send production to Asia, take those profits and stash them in the Cayman Islands, then use their tax-free haul to fund right wing astroturf groups like the teabaggers.

Is it all right if I have my Gentlemen's Gentlemen take it for me? I must save my hands and fingers for my polo match later on today.

Charles Murray--not exactly a plebe himself. More like Chester Gillette, except all that worked out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Murray_%28author%29

Even among us 'elite', there is a wide variety of things that we do and enjoy. As a wise man I know often says, "It would be an exceedingly dull world if everyone had the same tastes!"

As a long time follower of Steve Benen on this and his previous site, it has long been apparent that he does not take vacations. My suggestion to Steve would be to take at least one or two weeks of real vacation at least every other year. It would be in his best interests for remaining healthy mentally. It would be in OUR best interests that he not burn out and not be able to continue posting.

While the "new elites" would likely consider me an elite, if they just looked at my answers and didn't know who I was an where I lived I think I wouldn't be considered and elite. Only my answers 11 and 12 would give give pause.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" NO
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" NO
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" YES
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? YES
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? NO
6. How about pilates? NO
7. How about skiing? NO
8. Mountain biking? NO
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? YES
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? YES
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? SOMEWHAT
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? NO
13. How about a Harlequin romance? YES
14. Do you take interesting vacations? NOT REALLY

He forgot a few:
Is Obama an American ?
Do tax cuts reduce the deficit ?
Does America have the best health care, eva ?
Does the word god appear in the Constitution ?
Are the unemployed lazy and/or drug addicts ?
Is Social security on the brink of collapse ?
Did Iraq have WMD's ?

Sorry, but this flaming liberal is married to a liberal from Branson. I live in Texas, worked in several factories, drive a German car, drove a forklift, and I think the only Jimmy Johnson worth discussing was the coach of the Dallas Cowgirls. I have lived in the ghetto above a bar where I doubt my neighbors graduated high school, not that I ever thought about it. I am Veteran that grew up in Wisconsin on a family farm. I like to drink at dive bars and dress up for Halloween with other Murray elites. I have a fantasy football team and regularly meet my Murray elitist friends to watch MMA. I easily clear six figures at my oilfield related job and my boss has a cattle ranch. Oh, and I live in downtown Houston in cement building with electricity and cable with loads of homeless in my neighborhood whom I know most by name.
Whoopti de, Whoopti da.

What is the fricken point, if Murray want to go toe to toe on one's elitism, this farm boy can can take him either way. I can blend anywhere, from the hillbillies in Branson & Texas to the corporate meetings where I have to discuss very elitism things like tax planning and acquisitions.

I can promise Murray this, my republican bosses don't know what half the crap on his list are. Does that mean I work for a bunch of right wing elitists, of course not. It means Murray is an idiot who seems to think he knows what makes a liberal tick.

I thought MMA was some ratings agency, like R for movies and such. When Steve mentioned watching it, I was completely at a loss. Thank goodness for Google. :-)

Oh, and Steve, Pilates is basically yoga for your stomach muscles (the core muscles) which can be done on the floor or on equipment. All the exercises are meant to strengthen your core muscles.

KK's user profile

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Nope

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

Yes,but I gave it up in year three as a waste of time.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Nope and don't care, I have a job.

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

Nope, same as above

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

No way

6. How about pilates?

I've heard the word, but I'm not entirely sure what pilates even are.

7. How about skiing?

Love it.

8. Mountain biking?

Not even a little.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

I do, but NASCAR isn't for me.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

I know what it is and what it stands for, but I've never watched it.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Sure but who wants to hear it?

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

No, but I can tell you quite a bit about how looney one of its authors is.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

Nope.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

As many as possible, usually skiing

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

I don't even know of any awful backpacking spots in the Sierra Nevada. Nope, an east coast latte sipping Liberal.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

I hear it's a lovely area, but I'm a New Yorker so Montauk is my spot.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

Heading to a Penn State game, for sure!

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

I am a Norse sea men but no way for cruise, the claustrophobia would get to me.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Sure but too far away to go to gamble.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

Nope.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

Nope.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

Sine you excluded school I have to say know. The one year in a small town convinced to never go back.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

I've never thought to ask, but I'm guessing for sure.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?
Not since I had a family, great motivator to work.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Nope. Catholics, Jews and Mainline Prods, pretty standard fare for an East Coast, Lattte sipping Liberal

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

Yes

I'm pretty sure if that makes I am an "elitist," but I still care about the those less able or fortunate.

I notice there is not one single question about music.

I'm not entirely sure what pilates even are.

Is. But that's all I know about them. Er, it.

Just to prove that Murray is an ass and people aren't as easy to classify as he thinks, here are my answers -- and remember, I'm considered a card-carrying Communisocialistic DFH here in KC.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Nope. But I saw one of the actresses from it in Playboy. :-)

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

Nope -- don't have HBO, and didn't have cable until about two years ago.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Sadly, yes. And Drew is horrific.

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

Um ... yes. But with The Mrs.

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

Nope -- two back surgeries.

6. How about pilates?

Nope.

7. How about skiing?

Dear lord I miss skiing so damn much it hurts every time I see fresh powder (see answer for question #5 for reason).

8. Mountain biking?

Used to do it a bunch, but again, see answer to #5.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

Four-time -- soon to be five time -- NASCAR champ who doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. Though I'm more of a Clint Bowyer fan myself, and think he got screwed.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

Yes. It means large men beating the crap out of each other to either: a.) give them an outlet for their roid rage; b.) resolve deep-seated mommy and/or daddy issues.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

The Literature degree I have helps with this.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

To quote Steve: "No, but I can tell you quite a bit about how looney one of its authors is."

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

Oh dear lord no. Total. Utter. Crap.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

If I had the money, yes ... yes I would.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

Is there a bad one?

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

I have no idea what or where this is.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

I'd be caught live in one with no issues whatsoever. The Mrs and I are even saving for a pop-up.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

Maybe, depending on the ship.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Heard of it, and went there before it turned into the Beverly Hillbillies' answer to Vegas. But I went to college about an hour north of there, so grade this on a scale.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

Nope.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

I don't even know what the hell they do. Work on Mazda RXs?

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

I lived for six years in one.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Yep.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

Yep.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Close friend? No. People I know? Yes. I live in Missouri for chrissakes!

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

Yes.

So ... how the hell does Murray explain those?

Sounds like fun. You can reduce it to one question:

"Have you ever read the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times or the Washington Post cover to cover on a Sunday morning?" In fact even easier:

When was the last time you read a book?

1. This week.
2. This month.
3. This year.
4. I don't remember.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Nope

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

No.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Nope and don't care.

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

Nope, same as above

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

Only when my girlfriend is performing "downward facing dog!"

6. How about pilates?

I've seen women on TV doing it.

7. How about skiing?

Love it.

8. Mountain biking?

My mountain bike was stolen! Bummer man!

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

I thought he was the former coach of the Dolphins who appears on NFL Sunday. No?

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

Say what?

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Sure but who wants to hear it?

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

No and I don't want to hear anybody else talk about it either.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

Nope.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

As many as possible, Semester at Sea cruises are amazing.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

Yes, but I haven't been there in nearly 20 years.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

Where's that?

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

I have nothing against them, just never been in one.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

Went on one to Aruba, Grenada, Trinidad, etc. last June.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

No.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

Nope.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

Nope.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

Grew up in one, but I suppose that CT doesn't count?

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Do so now.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

Yup. More than I'd like to admit.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Nope.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

No.

14. why in the name of god would you take a BORING vacation. That's just plain stupid.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?
Sure, went there as a Boy Scout. Is that elitist or plebe?

all the other junk - just more 'Bud or Coors, Coke or Pepsi' divisiveness. If you like NASCAR, or fencing, whatever - it's your life, watch what you like, drink what you like.

Apparently, readers of this site love to take tests!

On the topic of Steve's 'vacations', I subscribe to the sentiment of an ornately embroidered throw pillow, seen on Jackie Collin's couch:

Vacations are for Amateurs."

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Yes.

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

I never really watched it that much. I thought "Rome" was a better show, but that's the history geek in me talking.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Drew Carey, right? I stopped watching a long time ago.

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

No, that's my wife's department.

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

Huh?

6. How about pilates?

You mean that big blue rubber ball that my wife has in the basement?

7. How about skiing?

Water? Sure, but I prefer knee-boarding.

8. Mountain biking?

For what passes as mountains in eastern Nebraska.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

He's a whiny punk. I'm a big fan of Junior, though when I saw Clint Bowyer cross the finish line at Daytona in 2007 UPSIDE DOWN AND ON FIRE, he definitely earned my respect.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

Of course, Mobile Marketing Association.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Heck yes.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

Never have, never will. I'll stick with the Bible and "The Divine Comedy".

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

Harlequin? What is this, 1955?

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

We went to Florida this last May, so yeah.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

I don't know about the Sierra Nevada, but I'm pretty familiar with the Coastal Range mountains you find at Ft. Ord and Ft. Hunter Liggett.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

Where the heck is that?

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

Hopefully, I'll still be alive when I go into my parents' RV during this weekend's family camping trip.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

I like to take my vacations while I'm alive. But I wouldn't mind a cruise. Though I'm more comfortable on a boat that's on a lake.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Been there, hated it. Too Vegasy for me, though the old town part was more to my liking.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

Who?

21. How about the Rotary Club?

No.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

Close, I did work summers at my grandpa's feedlot, and at my uncles' farms, and stayed at my both of my grandparents' houses in Plainview.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Do Army barracks count?

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

I'll have to say no, but I've been pretty close.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

If by "close friend" you mean "mother-in-law", then yes I do.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

No, but I have worked in loading docks and diesel repair shops for my dad.

Look, I'd love to fill this out, but I'm just too busy sipping latte and saving the manatees right now.

I love the comments!

Just another example of a conservative creating an "us" and "them" where there is no reason for doing so other than exploit people's desire to seem superior. If you fall for it you aren't elite, but rather a victim of elite wannabes.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

The Slacktivist has been reading them, so we don't have to.

How is this not insulting to everyone? "Hey, do you watch a popular cable TV show? Then you're elitist!" Or "Do you watch daytime TV, but you don't watch MMA? Sorry, you're elitist!" You farmers who don't work on a factory, you're elitists. Plumbers? Elitist. Kindergarten school teachers, truck drivers, mail carriers, hardware store employees? All of them elitist bastards who are out of touch with the real America. That one guy out there who loves both Left-Behind and Romance novels (who reads nothing else, no sci-fi, mystery or suspense novels), watches Oprah, MMA, and NASCAR, but knows nothing about Mountain Biking and takes boring, crappy vacations from his or her factory floor job? He's the ONLY real American.

What's fair is fair.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Best damn show on tv since Married with Children.

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

Never watched an episode.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

No, but didn't Happy Gilmore beat the crap out of him?

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

No, but I hear that she lives nearby. If it hadn't been for Peg Bundy, I might never have heard of her.

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

Why?

6. How about pilates?

Yep. And I'm sure I don't need it. On the other hand, my son at 15-16 increased his vertical, foot speed, and arm speed quite a bit under a very skilled instructor, and he ended up with a d-1 scholarship in the sport of his choosing. He might have done it without it, but that's beside the point. It worked for him.

7. How about skiing?

I'm not big on freezing my ass off.

8. Mountain biking?

My wife owns a mountain bike the same way some folks own 4 wheel drives. Looks good on the street.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

No. But google seems to find him.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

No. See 9.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

No, just some of the ones I have read. I have a strong belief that Breakfast of Champions is a classic, Kindle is the greatest bit of technology to come our way in the last two years, and that college textbooks are predatory pricing and exploitation at its finest.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

No. And I am going to forget that you asked me.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

No. But I have heard of their existence.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

I sure do, now. Otherwise, what's the point? But my answer to number 19 tells you that it wasn't always that way.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

I do, and I'm not telling you.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

Wrong coast.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

No. But my parents toured around in them for a 12-15 years after they retired.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

Dead or alive, not a chance in hell.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Sure. I was there before it was "there". In 1977. It's right up there with the Indiana Dunes, Kentucky Dam, Meramec Cavern, Mammoth Cave, the Illinois Amish around Tuscola, the Trail of Tears and the Wisconsin Dells. Real highlights, eh?

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

No.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

No. But I really want to know why are you leaving out the Elks, the Moose, the Loyal Order of the Oddfellows, and the VFW?

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

I was born in a small town. I grew up in small towns, but I'm not going to live in one of them and I'm not going to die in one of them.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Sure did.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

I don't know about twice the poverty line, but I know what between two and one feels like.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Not since I was a kid.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes. Many times.

27. Have you worked on one?

I've helped automate parts of several of them, but that's not quite the same thing as working on one of them.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" Yes, in detail.
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" Yes, in detail.
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" Sure--Drew Carey
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? No.
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? No.
6. How about pilates? No.
7. How about skiing? No.
8. Mountain biking? Yes, though it's been years since I've done it. Not many mountains in Florida.
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? Of course; who among us does not love NASCAR?
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? Metropolitan Museum of Art, right?
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? Yes. More so than TV or movies, probably.
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? I tried, but the writing was too bland.
13. How about a Harlequin romance? Nope.
14. Do you take interesting vacations? They're interesting to me; beyond that I can't say.
15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada? No. Sierra Nevada to me means beer.
16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor? No idea where that is.
17. Would you be caught dead in an RV? If my uncle's pop-up camper counts, then yes.
18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship? Yes, I've been on two, in fact..
19. Have you ever heard of of Branson, Mo?. Yes--from the Simpsons; Nelson was a big Andy Williams fan, as I recall.
20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club? No.
21. How about the Rotary Club? Yes, when I was their "Student of the Month" in high school.
22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town? Yes.
23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees? Never lived in any kind of urban neighborhood, really.
24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line? Probably not, though things weren't necessarily flush when I was a young kid.
25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian? No. A number of my relatives are, though.
26. Have you ever visited a factory floor? From 7 to 3 on a daily basis, at one time.
27. Have you worked on one? More than one, actually.

1-10: No to all. Almost zero TV of any sort, no yoga or pilates, no skiing or mountain biking, no Jimmie Johnson or MMA.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Yes.

12, 13: No. My reading tastes aren't exactly highbrow, but they're higher than that.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

Is lying on a beach in Florida for a week in October 'interesting'? Probably not. But it's what recharges my batteries these days.

15, 16: No Sierra Nevada backpacking spot, no Boothbay Harbor B&B.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

I kinda like the idea of a vacation in an RV, actually, but with gas prices the way they are, it might be a bit pricey.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

Got nothing against them; I just don't understand the appeal. If I'm going to go to the ocean, I'm going to be on the shore, not on a floating city somewhere out to sea.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Yes. Again, I've never grokked the appeal; it sounds like a cut-rate Nashville. And it's not like Nashville has priced itself out of most people's budgets.

20,21: No Kiwanis, no Rotary. Isn't there a generational thing going on here, as well as an urban/rural divide?

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

Two years in Florence, SC. Small enough for you?

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

No. Would a suburban neighborhood where most of my neighbors didn't have college degrees count?

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

Yes.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Hell, I taught for five years at an evangelical Christian college.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

No.

I wonder if my responses will make the tallying machine blow up...

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"
You betcha!

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"
Nope, was living in the European Socialist Paradise at the time.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"
No idea whatsoever.
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

I’ve not watched an Oprah show from beginning to first commercial.

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?
Uuuuuutanasana-yeah!

6. How about pilates?
Not so much this one.

7. How about skiing?
As they say in Kitzbuhel – gut gelaunt, genießen!

8. Mountain biking?
Back in my prime, yeah.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?
Vaguely.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?
Not a thing.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?
More than anyone would care to know.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?
Oddly, yes (more than one even). Partly in some misguided attempt to better know my fellow countryman and partly because apocalyptic sci-fi is just awesome in any form.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?
Bodice-heaving good fun!

14. Do you take interesting vacations?
Wherever, whenever.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?
If I find one I probably won’t come back.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?
Boothbay is overrated and touristy. Christmas Cove (about 15 mi away) is much more charming.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?
Would prefer to be caught alive in one.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?
I don’t get the stigma associated with a cruise – five days of uninterrupted reading, cocktails, bad salsa bands – am I missing something?

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?
No.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?
No, but I’ve waved to the guys hanging outside the local club that’s on my jogging route. Nice fellows generally.

21. How about the Rotary Club?
See “Kiwanis” above.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?
For the last three years and going strong.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?
Yeah I think so, but it was in Kazakhstan so may not be much of an indicator.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?
Thankfully no, I count my blessings.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?
Many – and most of them do not in any way resemble the pumped-up-with-crazy denizens of Mondo Fox.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?
Can’t avoid this if you’re doing investor due diligence.

27. Have you worked on one?
No, but I sprained my ankle in a beer factory in Novgorod, Russia. Good times.

Good leaders really shouldn't have time for most of the crap in that list.

If Obama is elite, GOOD!
Do I want him to sit through an entire episode/match/race of Oprah, MMA, the Price is Right, or NASCAR?

I'd be horrified to learn that he did! Even if it was in his spare time!

No president should be capable of maintaining interest in pablum for a full hour. A sturdy chair and handcuffs should be required to keep him/her there.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" NO
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" NO
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" NO
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? Not even part of an Oprah show
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? NO
6. How about pilates? I've seen it once.
7. How about skiing? I've gone down hill skiing twice, and cross country for three winters in Wisconsin. It sure beats snowmobiling.
8. Mountain biking? Only across Iowa (RAGBRAI)
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? What do the Dallas cowboys have to do with NASCAR?
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? It's a chemical we use in the lab.
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? Some of them, but probably not the ones you're thinking of.
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? NO, what ever for?
13. How about a Harlequin romance? NO
14. Do you take interesting vacations?
Yes, but they are all working vacations.
15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada? I was in the Sierra Nevadas once on a family vacation during the 10th grade.
16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor? Where?
17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?
I would like to be able to afford one, but I would never consider spending the money on one.
18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?
Eventually, maybe. I hear that they are cheaper than an old folks' home.
19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo? Yes
20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club? NO
21. How about the Rotary Club? Tampoco
22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town? Absolutely, grew up in one.
23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees? I've been doing it for the last 15 years.
24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line? I think I may have grown up in a family like that, but I was never aware of it.
25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian? Yes, I live in Texas after all.
26. Have you ever visited a factory floor? Yes
27. Have you worked on one? Yes

So now what does that make me? (I'm assuming that a "plebe" is a plebian, not a military academy graduate.)

I scored about an 11/27, assuming I'm grading correctly (RVs aren't elitist, right?).

Lemme put it this way: if there isn't, at this very moment, at least one bottle of hundred dollar wine in Charles Murray's cellar or electronic wine cabinet for every point I scored, I'll take an RV cruise to Branson, MO for my next interesting vacation.

By the way--did Murray specifically mention Rotary Clubs? If so, it's worth pointing out that at most only 1 out of every 300 Americans is a member, making the other 99.67% of us "elitist."

OK, I have a law degree, and two years of graduate study before I went to law school. I read quite a lot, and my politics are rather progressive I guess. Also, in terms of residence, I've pretty much been a lifelong resident of the Northeast Corridor, ground zero for the elites of the US. I don't consider myself an elite since I labor in a federal cubicle in the heart of Dilbertville, but some would consider me an elitist, I guess. Although I would consider their opinion to be evidence of their own effete anti-intellectualism.

But, on the other hand, I've earned a living, at various times, as a cab driver, truck driver, warehouseman, construction worker, and factory worker. I've been union and nonunion. I've got a three year period where I lived on an average income of about $2500/year (OK, I was spending most of my time outside the US then, where living was cheaper). I've lived in small towns (that are essentially commuting suburbs to big cities), and in urban neighborhoods where I had to hide the fact that I graduated high school. I know who Jimmie Johnson is and have even been to one NASCAR event, but find the sport outrageously expensive, even as a spectator (I wonder if Mr. Murray is even aware that even the cheap seats at most NASCAR events go for over $100 a pop - just for the joy of breathing in exhaust fumes for a couple of hours) and boring to watch live, or as tv entertainment. It finishes just slightly ahead of golf (and both beat watching paint dry).

So what have I learned from all this experience? People like Murray (and Ann Coulter before him) are so full of shit they should stick their heads in the toilet every time they open their mouths. Mr. Murray asks if people know who Jimmie Johnson is. I wonder if Mr. Murray knows the significance of #3, #48, or #88. Or is he too much of an elitist?

"Elitist" here is basically something akin to a racial slur. It's about taking a demographic minority, stereotyping it, demonizing it. Basically Charles Murray, an actual elite and actual elitist, and not coincidentally an eggheaded academic who's been ensconced for decades in privileged upper-class east coast institutions, is here trying to dictate what kind of behavior and groups are and are not welcome in his America. Which come to think of it has kind of been the entire focus of his career.

Okay, I'll bite.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

No.

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

Yes.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Yes

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

Yes, but I was at Tire Kingdom waiting for my car.

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

No.

6. How about pilates?

No.

7. How about skiing?

Yes, including how to run a chairlift and ski for free in Santa Fe.

8. Mountain biking?

I didn't know mountains could ride bikes.

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

Yes.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

No.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Yes.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

No.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

No, but I wrote a play where the main character writes them.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

I live an hour from Key Largo, so yes.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

No, but if you're talking about Rocky Mountain National Park, yes.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

Feh.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

If I was dead, how would I know? (Yes, I have no problem with RV's.)

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

Depends on what you mean by "cruise."

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Yes.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

No.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

Yes.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

I grew up in one.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Yes.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

Yes.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

Yes, and he's as gay as pink shoes.

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

Yes.

Here is my user profile

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?"

Nope

2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?"

Yes, it was sort of a family values centered mod series. I actually have known the kids of mobsters. Good people. Good values, but they don't talk about grandpa that much.

3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?"

Nope, I don't watch daytime TV.

4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end?

Nope, same as above

5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga?

No way

6. How about pilates?

Actually tried it once. Hard, hard exercise. You have to be a skinny woman to do it.

7. How about skiing?

Love it. Best winter vacations ever spent in Colorado.

8. Mountain biking?

Did it once, but I live on the Kansas/Missouri border. Not many mountains around here. I own a road bike. Does that make me elite?

9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is?

I do, but I think the famous one was the football coach.

10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you?

I know what it is and what it stands for, but I've never watched it.

11. Can you talk about books endlessly?

Sure, but I read different kinds depending on whether I am flying or studying a new subject.

12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel?

No.

13. How about a Harlequin romance?

Yes. Once. Never again.

14. Do you take interesting vacations?

As many as possible. My current dream vacation involves Tuscany.

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada?

I haven't been to California in decades. The answer is NO, but I do know some great spots in the Rockies.

16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor?

Where is Boothbay Harbor.

17. Would you be caught dead in an RV?

Yep, sounds like some good occasional fun.

18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?

I have never been on a cruise but several members of my family tell me they are great.

19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo?

Sure. Been there done that. You don't gamble in Branson.

20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club?

Member for over 30 years.

21. How about the Rotary Club?

Yes, but don't tell the Kiwanians.

22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town?

Not unless you count Independence, Missouri as a small town. Trust me eventhough it's population is over 100,000 a good argument could be made that it is indeed a small town.

23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees?

Yep.

24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line?

You have to be kidding. My first wife and I paid our own way through college while working and raising a family.

25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian?

My oldest son and his wife are Baptists. Does that count?

26. Have you ever visited a factory floor?

Yes.

27. Have you worked on one?

Yes

On reflection I think I must be a plebe even though I have two degrees, make a lot of money, know how to fly an airplane, and love to attend plays and the symphony.

So this is to prove . . . what, exactly?

I am not listing them all, but the fact that I have been on and actually worked on a factory floor, know nothing about Mad Men or the Sopranos but do know that Drew Carey replaced Bob Barker, and have read a Harlequin Romance, ought to offset the fact that most of my neighbors are college graduates, I can hold forth on skiing and take interesting vacations.

Or something.

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" No, only elitists can afford cable/satellite TV; I rely on local broadcast programming.
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" See #1.
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" I read that it was Drew Carey. See #4.
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? Sure, on occasion, but only elitists don?t have to work full time and can keep up with daytime TV.
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? No, though no doubt I could do so dully.
6. How about pilates? See #5.
7. How about skiing? See #5.
8. Mountain biking? See #5.
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? Some kind of athlete?
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? Middle Management Association.
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? Ones I?ve read.
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? Yes, following slacktivist?s line-by-line takedown religiously.
13. How about a Harlequin romance? Sure, sampled most of the available genres while working at a national chain bookstore.
14. Do you take interesting vacations? I find them so ? why else would I take them?
15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada? No, can you recommend one?
16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor? The only B&B I?ve stayed in was in Edinborough, Scotland, when the youth hostel was full.
17. Would you be caught dead in an RV? If by this you mean, have I ever traveled in an RV, then yes.
18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship? I wouldn?t know, as only elitists can afford cruises.
19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo? No, never heard of the Grand Ol? Opry or Dolly Parton either.
20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club? Yes, when I was a member of the Circle K Club in college.
21. How about the Rotary Club? No.
22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town? Have lived for decades on a farm just outside a very small town in rural Iowa ? does that count?
23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees? No, have done my best to avoid living in areas that could be called ?urban?.
24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line? Looking back, I?m sure my family fell into that category, though we never thought of ourselves as poor.
25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian? Do family members count? Used to be one myself ? does that count?
26. Have you ever visited a factory floor? Yes.
27. Have you worked on one? Yes, graveyard shift (so there!).

My elite liberal life:

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" No. I can talk about Project Runway and Destination Truth, though.
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" Never saw it. I never miss The Closer.
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" Drew Carey? Is that his name?
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? When I was pregnant - 18 years ago.
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? No. I do have a yoga routine I follow, but it's not something I can talk about. I always forget the names of the poses.
6. How about pilates? I've tried pilates. It's kind of nice, but I don't do it regularly. The machines are too expensive.
7. How about skiing? Never. Well, I water-skiied when I was young, but that was a long time ago.
8. Mountain biking? Never, never.
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? Nope.
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? Multiple martial arts.
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? Yes.
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? I read the beginning of one. By page 10, I was wishing the fuckers would get raptured already so there'd never have to be another Left Behind novel.
13. How about a Harlequin romance? Yes. It made me uncomfortable - way too much bodice-ripping, not enough plot.
14. Do you take interesting vacations? If you consider hopping to Iowa to visit my father (who has Alzheimer's) interesting, then sure. To be honest, I got to go to Italy once, because my husband had a conference there and a friend of mine invited me to stay with her while he worked.

Dave Weigel has cited a couple of pretty good rebuttals of Murray's op-ed by people who aren't exactly flaming lefties -- Wil Wilkinson and David Frum. One point they both make: Murray goes on and on about elitism without every really talking about money.

I’d wager the fee Murray received for his article that the Yale-educated cardiologist mentioned [in Murray's op-ed] has never talked to his or her U.S. Senator. The Yale-educated Goldman VP? His senator calls him.

Murray appears to wish to define the American elite in such a way that it excludes Philip Anschutz, Larry Ellison, and Sarah Palin (all of whom have lots of money and power but unlavish educational credentials), but includes everybody who shops at Zabar’s. It seems an unscientific way of proceeding.

To say the least (and I say that as someone who shops at Zabar's on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but has a salary in the mid-five figures.)

Oops. The rest of my elite liberal life:

15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada? No. No backpacking. Never.
16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor? Where's Boothbay Harbor?
17. Would you be caught dead in an RV? No. The gas is too expensive.
18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship? I wouldn't be caught alive on one, either. I'm a little afraid of being out on the open sea.
19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo? Yes. Been there.
20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club? Nope.
21. How about the Rotary Club? Nope.
22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town? Yes. Clear Lake, Iowa.
23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees? Yes. And it's not a 'poor' urban neighborhood. You'd be surprised at how many successful people didn't finish college.
24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line? Oh, yes. More than one...
25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian? Yes. We don't agree on religion, though.
26. Have you ever visited a factory floor? Yes.
27. Have you worked on one? No. Worked as a waitress, though. Is that good enough?

wonder if chas knows mad men is on basic cable and the sopranos were on premimum cable?

wonder if he knows there are two equally famous jimmy johnsons???

wonder if "non-elites" ie: real 'muricans
ever use the term "real americans" or if they're too busy attempting to not get crushed from the fallout from bushnomics on a daily basis here in real america to stop and think about the concept..

1. Can you talk about "Mad Men?" no but I can go on and on about NCIS
2. Can you talk about the "The Sopranos?" No
3. Do you know who replaced Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right?" Only because I've read other people's answer.
4. Have you watched an Oprah show from beginning to end? no, have you?
5. Can you hold forth animatedly about yoga? Yes, as long as you don't ask me to demonstrate any of the poses
6. How about pilates? Only on the cost
7. How about skiing? Only on x-country
8. Mountain biking? Only on how some mtn bikers are pretty destructive to the environment
9. Do you know who Jimmie Johnson is? Which one? There's the NASCAR guy and then the old football Miami Coach who's now hopefully getting voted off some island - and whose hair never moves.
10. Does the acronym MMA mean anything to you? You're missing the "O" - MOMA :)
11. Can you talk about books endlessly? Oh hell yes
12. Have you ever read a "Left Behind" novel? Nope would rather suffer through endless performances of Waiting for Godot
13. How about a Harlequin romance? when i was tween.
14. Do you take interesting vacations? Define "interesting"
15. Do you know a great backpacking spot in the Sierra Nevada? Why, do you need directions?
16. What about an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor? No, but I'll rent you the family vacay house at the Vineyard
17. Would you be caught dead in an RV? If I'm dead, it really doesn't matter where the body is found, now is it?
18. Would you be caught dead on a cruise ship?
>see question 17
19. Have you ever heard of Branson, Mo? Of course, but I wouldn't go - somehow the idea of paying to watch an old Andy Williams attempt to croon just really isn't inviting at all
20. Have you ever attended a meeting of a Kiwanis Club? no.
21. How about the Rotary Club? no
note: How come no questions about the Shriners or the Masons?
22. Have you lived for at least a year in a small town? Oh yeah.
23. Have you lived for a year in an urban neighborhood in which most of your neighbors did not have college degrees? Yup. Doubt if Murray ever has though
24. Have you spent at least a year with a family income less than twice the poverty line? Asshole - that's how I'm living now
25. Do you have a close friend who is an evangelical Christian? Yes. I pray for him every day, poor misguided soul.
26. Have you ever visited a factory floor? Yes
27. Have you worked on one? Yes. Have you?

From Wikipedia, in case you wanted to learn more.

Joseph H. Pilates was born in 1883[1] in M�nchengladbach, Germany. His father was a prize-winning gymnast of Greek ancestry, and his mother worked as a naturopath.

Pilates was a sickly child and suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, and he dedicated his entire life to improving his physical strength. Besides skiing frequently, he began studying body-building, yoga, "cong fu" (probably what we now call [qigong]] and gymnastics. By the age of 14, he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. Pilates came to believe that the "modern" life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training-techniques and engineered all the equipment, specifications, and tuning required to teach his methods properly.

Pilates ....moved to England in 1912, he earned a living as a professional boxer, circus-performer, and self-defense trainer at police schools and Scotland Yard.

Nevertheless, the British authorities interned him during World War I along with other German citizens in a concentration camp on the Isle of Man. During this involuntary break, he began to intensively develop his concept of an integrated, comprehensive system of physical exercise, which he himself called "Contrology." He studied yoga and the movements of animals and trained his fellow inmates in fitness and exercises. It is told that these inmates survived the great pandemic of 1918 due to their good physical shape.

If you know what "plebe" means you're an elitist. Simple.

1. No, it has commercials.
2. Omerta forbids.
3. WTF?
4. Yes, when she was fat. I'm an old chubby chaser.
5. How about Yogi Berra? I know his stats.
6. The counsel or his dream-tormented wife?
7. Strap waxed boards on my feet and zip down a frozen hill? Are you fucking crazy?
8. Do motorcycles on highways count?
9. Sure, but I much preferred Junior Johnson.
10. It's ugly fighting for ugly viewers; I wrestled NCAA, so my nose is in the air.
11. Try me with Shakespeare or Twain.
12-13. I hate bad writing.
14. All vacations are interesting.
15. Ha! I now live in the Sierra.
16. Never heard of it.
17. Drove my dying father in an RV throughout the South so he could revisit childhood scenes of cotton picking and shit kicking.
18. Yes, but we called them troop ships.
19. Sure, Andy Williams and hillbillies.
20. I prefer the VFW bar.
21. I once read poetry at their weekly lunch for fifty dollars.
22. Twenty years at Newport, Oregon.
23. San Francisco Fillmore district.
24. Grew up in a poor family during the Depression.
25. No Christer friends, but lots of relatives.
26-27. Seven years, GM Chevrolet assembly line.

I am neither liberal nor progressive. I am a radical socialist of the Marx-De Leon variety with impeccable working class creds, but I sure loves me them double lattes!

We can easily simplify this quiz, thusly:

1) Is your name Charles Murray?

If yes, then you are an elitist pretending to be otherwise. If no, then you're fine, don't waste any time worrying about this pointless nonsense.

an exquisite B&B overlooking Boothbay Harbor

Don't have time to do the whole meme, but I wonder how many people outside Murray's personal circle this is supposed to catch. I was in Boothbay Harbor this freaking summer (it's in Maine), and I can't tell you of any exquisite B&Bs overlooking it. Stayed in a (reasonably exquisite) hotel/motel in Southport, since my friends' vacation house was full up.

Anyway, why is Murray all worked up about elitism? Isn't he the one who thinks poor folk (he was very careful to say he didn't just mean black poor folk) are genetic inferiors who need to be kept on reservations for their own good, or something like that?

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Good point, too frequently utterly ignored.