I'm not sure that I would call anyone "intellectually honest" who believes the false stuff that #TRE45ON and RW media spew though.
I think he tries, he is more so than any member of the Right on this board. The problem is he has been on the right all of his life, likely taught to him from some sort of very rigid religious upbringing, that type of thing usually clouds ones ability to deal in reality for their entire life.