What makes it even dumber: they talked about the editorial for weeks.

Andrew Rosenthal, The Times’s editorial page editor, told me Thursday that the editorial had been under discussion by the editorial board for weeks. The Times has written strong editorials about Mr. Snowden ever since the former contractor for the National Security Agency emerged into the national consciousness last spring. In general, The Times’s editorial page has supported Mr. Snowden, calling him a whistle-blower who has done a public service for American citizens by revealing vast - and unconstitutional - government surveillance.

But the moment for something larger arrived more recently, Mr. Rosenthal said.
publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com