Sometimes reporters write goofy stuff as filler that they know will be replaced before publication, but the story gets published online prematurely.

And sometimes the NYT just does appalling things.

The article refers to the 'great intellect' of Cruz in reference to his academic record and problem solving ability.

It doesn't make the claim he's a great conceptual thinker.

Whenever I see a comment about how "intelligent" a political figure is, I remember McGeorge Bundy, who was regarded as a near-genius (how often were his perfect SAT scores mentioned?) and was a total idiot nevertheless.

-- Mal

Without so much as a quote, I can't come to conclusion you did.

And by the way, I posted an editorial (the official opinion of the paper) the other day that absolutely slammed Cruz.

You're surprised?

and completely despicable with abhorrent views.

Just about everything he says in public is some combination of stupid, crazy, dishonest, and vile, and he's a hall of fame asshole.

But he's not Louie Gohmert or Sarah Palin. He clerked at the US Supreme Court and has worked on dozens of SCOTUS cases. The Republicans are vile creatures, but they don't trust SCOTUS cases to dummies.

He's one of those smart guys who's a dumb ass.

highest ranked debater in the Princeton University Debating Team, studied law at Harvard and
graduated magna cum laude.

I agree that his political values are radically different from mine. I think that his values-system
are like those of a psychopath, but that doesn't mean he does not have a great intellect. I
think he does have a great intellect for doing evil, and the harm he will do this country as
president could be incalculable.

Intellect and values-systems are two different concepts. I think, for example, most corporate
CEOs are highly intelligent people, but this does not prevent some of them from having
psychopathic personalities, and behaving as such.

in a strictly intellectual sense - to consistently succeed at that level is not an easy achievement.

Don't underestimate his intelligence - the problem is not his IQ but the beliefs and causes he applies it to.

Sorry, I don't find him highly intelligent. He just sounds intelligent because he is unusually glib, slippery and slimy. He sounds occasionally convincing because his every utterance is imbued with over the top self confidence other wise known as hubris. His greatest mistake in debate terms is regularly confusing unimportant trivia with earth shaking leaps of false discovery tied together in long strings of convoluted logic. Logic is his friend. Reason is his enemy. His signature debate style is to pack a dozen falsehoods into a single sentence leaving the opposition wondering just where to begin. That is not evidence of intelligence; it is evidence of a fundamentalist ideologue pandering to his base with well polished parlor tricks. Can he think on his feet? That remains to be seen. Is he a dangerous Republican hopeful now dragging American politics further into the right wing fever swamps? Yah, he is.

P.S. The most interesting thing about the Cruz candidacy right now is how the so called Republican establishment will deal with him. They too know he is dangerous. Pass the popcorn.

methinks they are much more correct than the nyt.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026408086

Thanks for the welcome. Life long Democrat here and long time reader of DU. I've visited this site virtually every day for many years and find great value here. I am deeply worried about the drift of politics in America and fear things will not end well. Ted Cruz is a classic example of every thing that is wrong with right wing super nationalism wrapped in religious fundamentalism. His views are difficult to counter without being labeled a traitor or an atheist. Democrats who want to win the day in this climate are going to need to stand on some solid ground and respond from a base of core values. Unfortunately I do not see that happening. To be continued.