So, I dated a woman once whose former father-in-law had been a complete co-conspirator with Bernie Madoff.
She had long suspected it. Her husband, on the other hand, worked for his father and completely believed he was just a legitimate success.
1/
She had long suspected it. Her husband, on the other hand, worked for his father and completely believed he was just a legitimate success.
1/
When Madoff went down, her husband remained 100% certain that his father wasn’t a party to Madoff’s scam.
Even as evidence mounted, he just could not be brought to believe the truth about his dad.
2/
Even as evidence mounted, he just could not be brought to believe the truth about his dad.
2/
Then, one day after they had divorced, he showed up at her door in tears and said “He knew. My dad knew.”
An entire lifetime of denial - even to the point of complete cognitive dissonance - had finally broken down.
And he knew it had all been a lie.
3/
An entire lifetime of denial - even to the point of complete cognitive dissonance - had finally broken down.
And he knew it had all been a lie.
3/
I’ve thought of that story often as I’ve watched Donald Trump, Jr. spiraling deeper and deeper into increasingly manic and incoherent denialism.
His feed today is just *unhinged*.
People assume all of the Trump’s are in on the con.
4/
His feed today is just *unhinged*.
People assume all of the Trump’s are in on the con.
4/
Junior though... I think he’s a true believer.
I think he truly believes his father is a genius and a success and a legitimate businessman who just plays hard rather than just cheats and commits crimes.
5/
I think he truly believes his father is a genius and a success and a legitimate businessman who just plays hard rather than just cheats and commits crimes.
5/
Junior seems to be on a collision course with a truth even he can no longer deny.
That may not end well.
When Madoff’s own boys had that day of reckoning, one didn’t survive it.
6/
That may not end well.
When Madoff’s own boys had that day of reckoning, one didn’t survive it.
6/
Junior appears to be in bad shape. Can’t imagine that’s going to get better.
His father doesn’t give a remote shit about him. The people he thought were friends in politics are going to ghost him.
He could be headed for bad, bad times.
7/7
His father doesn’t give a remote shit about him. The people he thought were friends in politics are going to ghost him.
He could be headed for bad, bad times.
7/7
p.s. I feel bad for people who grew up with dysfunction in their childhoods.
I don’t absolve them of responsibility for their adult choices and treatment of others.
I don’t absolve them of responsibility for their adult choices and treatment of others.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
