You attacked the man's intelligence with some nonsense about lowering the bar for brain surgeons or something along those lines. I'm not sure how familiar you are with neurosurgeons, but they are pretty much the in the upper (elite) reaches of intelligence among the population. I've never listened to his ideas on the topics you mention, but if you said something like, the man's got some crazy ideas, based on what you have brought forth, I'd agree with you. But it is not because he is not intelligent. A lot of intelligent people believe really crazy crap (good youtube video on the topic as to why).He came out with a few others around the same time. I remember him sounding distinctly dim a few times when he was a candidate. His arguments against the theories of evolution and the Big Bang weren't notable for their logic.
Whats he said that's struck you as very bright? I may have missed the good and just recall the bad.
Our son-in-law was a neurosurgeon (RIP), graduated from Stanford with a PhD in philosophy, first in his med school class. Utterly brilliant and accomplished. I know what you mean.I have worked with several neurosurgeons in the past. All are highly intelligent individuals. But I will say, as a specialty, neurosurgeons are peculiar. Somewhat awkward and nerdy.