Does anyone on this forum doubt Ted Cruz's intelligence?

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Define "intelligence." There are many types of intelligence, and ivy league degrees are evidence of some of them but not others. I do not doubt that he may have aced all his exams in law school or that he was an extremely capable attorney or that he possesses a certain type of cleverness that lends itself well to playing political games.

But I reject the notion that he's any sort of off-the-charts genius as I've seen you insinuate in other threads. And there's a difference between intelligence in the sense of book-smarts and the wisdom required to apply all that knowledge to the world around you in a sensible, logically-consistent, pragmatic, and constructive manner. I want my president to have the latter more than I want them to have a Harvard J.D., and based on Ted Cruz's professed worldview I don't believe that he has that. 

Excellent answer.  Thank you.

Just one thing, it was Harvard Law Professor  Alan Dershowitz, who had Cruz as a law student, who made the comment about Cruz being "off-the-charts brilliant".

I am sure you are aware of that, but just to clarify.

Well, now I doubt Alan Dershowitz's intelligence...

He didn't say "off the chart" in which direction.

he said "off-the-charts brilliant". come on now.

[IceSpear]

Ted Cruz was a freaking Harvard Law School graduate.  He has to know what he's doing!  Just like Bobby Jindal (who is also heavily educated himself) he is taking advantage of the ignorance of Republican primary voters.

Though Jindal isn't doing a very good job of it.

[Maxwell]

Nobody says he's dumb, but he's a man of incredibly low character.

Indeed.

[Torie]

Newt Gingrich is pretty smart too. Next question!

[Mr. Illini]

I am hearing a lot of echoes, but very little originality for some strange reason.

Probably because we all came here to say the same thing

[Rockefeller GOP]

I am hearing a lot of echoes, but very little originality for some strange reason.

Probably because we all came here to say the same thing

And because all that needs to be said about Ted Cruz has been said.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Hitler was a brilliant man too.

[Ebsy]

Hitler was a brilliant man too.

Godwin's law, anyone?

[DS0816]

Does anyone on this forum doubt Ted Cruz's intelligence?

I don't think about Ted Cruz.

It was kind of you to ask.

[WVdemocrat]

Cruz is very intelligent. He believes in what he believes in, and he doesn't budge. I can respect that. But someone who wants to be president must be willing to compromise and compromise their beliefs sometimes, because it's for the greater good. Cruz has thus far shown he is unwilling to do that. I don't doubt that he's intelligent, he is, and he gives great thought to what he believes, but he doesn't have the character to be commander in chief. On paper, Cruz should be a good candidate for president, but there are things which can't be plugged into an equation and calculated. He is a partisan hack and that's why a US Senator is all he is ever going to be. He is a very intelligent man, you're right, but he needs to be more than that, and he's not.

[Lincoln Republican]

Hitler was a brilliant man too.

Hitler was also a mad man.

Cruz is not.

[Lincoln Republican]

Cruz is very intelligent. He believes in what he believes in, and he doesn't budge. I can respect that. But someone who wants to be president must be willing to compromise and compromise their beliefs sometimes, because it's for the greater good. Cruz has thus far shown he is unwilling to do that. I don't doubt that he's intelligent, he is, and he gives great thought to what he believes, but he doesn't have the character to be commander in chief. On paper, Cruz should be a good candidate for president, but there are things which can't be plugged into an equation and calculated. He is a partisan hack and that's why a US Senator is all he is ever going to be. He is a very intelligent man, you're right, but he needs to be more than that, and he's not.

A very thoughtful analysis.

Thank you.

[Roemerista]

The ivory tower is not impervious to the ascension of fools.