Delusion is a beautiful thing. It allows us to convince ourselves whenever we do stupid stuff … it really isn’t stupid stuff.

I’m guilty, as well.

The Benton hire

For example, Madore has now convinced himself that he did not hire County Environmental Services Director Don Benton. Benton couldn’t tell the difference between wastewater and watermelon, but that didn’t matter to Madore and his sidekick, Councilor Tom Mielke. They hired Benton anyway. And Madore simply has not been able to shake this disastrous decision. It was so bad, in fact, that sources said Madore tried to convince Benton to resign. But Benton’s mama didn’t raise no fools. No way Benton gives up that fat county paycheck.

So with that painful daily reminder that Benton is still on the county payroll, Madore is shifting gears. He now claims it was actually the then-county administrator who hired Benton. Of course, what really happened was Madore wanted the county administrator to rubber-stamp his hiring of Benton. But he refused to play along with Madore. So Benton got the job without the county administrator getting his hands dirty. It was all on the M&M boys, then. And their slick little move to hire Benton not only resulted in this continual PR disaster for them, it cost county taxpayers $250,000 to settle with a county employee who actually was qualified for the job.

Going it alone

Madore has also convinced himself that even if he has to go it alone, he will continue to fight what he sees is the good fight. Madore concludes that history has proved that people who believe in a cause and have to suffer because of it have been rewarded later. A political martyr, if you will.

Of course, he’s just being delusional again, justifying his caustic, often bitter approach as a necessary evil.