Conning suckers is an art form

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Thursday, January 6. 2011

Conning suckers is an art form

Every naive, soft-hearted person wants a hand in this guy's redemption. I've dealt with people like Williams. It's a sucker's game, but a pretty good one. Ted Williams' Checkered Past Begins to Emerge.

Oh yeah - he's "spiritual" now, so watch your wallet.

Posted by The News Junkie at 16:15 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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OK, he has a checkered past. Many people do. Big deal. Let's see what he does with a second chance. I personally am hoping he will make it.

#1 Cilla Mitchell, Galveston Texas (Link) on 2011-01-06 17:15 (Reply)

Ted Williams. (Low level misdemeanor crimes)
Second chance with a drooling media? No Problem.

Michael Vick. (Dog torturer)
Second chance in the NFL?..and with the President's grateful approval?
No Problem.

Capt. Owen Honor's. (dumb high-school style video while XO of U.S.S.Enterprise)

Second Chance?

Hah! A twenty five year career sh*t canned to bottom of the deep blue sea.

Anchors Away.

#2 mike scully (Link) on 2011-01-06 18:04 (Reply)

It wasn't a dumb video. What took place by the politically correct crowd is what was dumb. Destructive A-holes.

#2.1 Ratso on 2011-01-06 18:42 (Reply)

There are some significant differences at work with Owen Honor's situation.
Sure, he deserves a second chance, but not in military command. What he did, as a leader, was to show intolerance and belittle people he disagreed with. That lowers his credibility.
He still deserves a second chance, and someone will give it to him. But not as a military leader.

The other two did things that are hugely flawed, but which didn't impact their workplace roles directly. As a result, they have a more likely chance within their previous jobs to get a do-over.

I think Vick is probably cleaning up very well. His situation is being monitored FAR more closely than many others - and more than Williams is likely to be monitored. I have higher hopes for Vick than for Williams.
Williams will likely find that the notoriety and money he earns lead him to be less rigid in his reformation attempt...and potentially has a higher chance of failure.
I hope I'm wrong.

Owens will probably be fine. He's got a good head on his shoulders and is smart enough to know what he did wrong. He'll remedy the situation.

I agree that the PC crowd is over the top, but I don't see what he did as a being a victim of the PC crowd. I see him as a victim of his own emotional immaturity.

#2.2 Rick on 2011-01-06 23:11 (Reply)

He's a former fighter pilot. As the father of a Marine fighter pilot, I can safely say that these guys just ain't right in the head. :>)

Owen's error was in using Flight Ready Room highjinks as a crew moral booster. Not everybody gets Ready Room humor. He kept the immature fighter pilot mentality and brought that to a command position - which is not smart. And when the PC crowd got hold of it, that was the end of his career.

He will bounce back - ring knockers always have the opportunity to advance in the civilian world. It's unfortunate that he lost his command, but he will survive.

#2.2.1 Tom Francis on 2011-01-07 06:36 (Reply)

So what, exactly, are military people "allowed" to do?? Any comedian could do that video and none of us would blink. But do we "OWN" military people and we can tell them what to think and what to say??? OK! Lets say that's true. Shouldn't we publish a list of the forbidden things? wouldn't that be fair so no one simply stumbles into a carear ruining mistake?? I mean if we are going to censor them retroactively lets tell them what we expect. What constitutional rights, exactly, have they lost. Could they tell a joke? So a catholic priest, a rabbi and a minister walk into a bar... Oops your carear is through you prejudice bastard!! Or if they confided to a friend that they thought cornholing your buddy in the shower or having sex with your wife's grandmother was dispicable should their lack of "tolerance and belittling" make them ineligible to risk their lives on our behalf?? Should these same rules apply to firemen, police, politicians (ha, ha, just a little joke), teachers, reporters atheletes... Or just our military??? Who do we get to control and destroy with our own little prejudices and biases that we hide by calling them "tolerance"???

#2.2.2 GoneWithTheWind on 2011-01-07 13:22 (Reply)

He's been taking advantage of people for a long time and it will be very hard for him to stop. I would like to be optimistic but the chances are not good he will redeem himself.

#3 Ratso on 2011-01-06 18:39 (Reply)

Freaks and deadbeats. Our media does love freaks and deadbeats.

#4 Knuclehead (Link) on 2011-01-06 20:19 (Reply)

There are people who have worked hard, kept off drugs, finished their degrees, paid their dues, and would probably be very happy to have an opportunity to work with the Cavs or Good Morning America.

This guy abandoned his wife and kids, stole from people, fathered out of wedlock no doubt welfare kids, peed in the street, did forgeries, etc.

I feel for the people who worked hard. I don't wish ill on Ted but it seems to me he should start out by paying his dues again, not parachute to the top of the heap.

Unless he has made extraordinary fundamental changes to his personality (which I admit happens, although terribly rarely), he won't last long.

#5 Marie on 2011-01-07 00:20 (Reply)

Wow, such bitter experts on the human condition. Williams is unprepared for the kind of attention he's getting, obviously. Everything I see him saying is honest and straight. He offers no excuses and expressed the desire for a life of dignity and reconciliation with his past. He didn't maneuver the media, they co-opted him, so I say, what do you mean "parachuted to the top of the pile". Are you saying the only "dues" that count towards paying your way to the top, are the canceled tuition checks for your college? I have known many people who have turned their lives around, found dignity and self respect. You ought to go to an AA meeting or two and broaden your narrow horizon on this. He now has that chance and I say God Bless the man.

#6 T.Akin on 2011-01-07 20:14 (Reply)

I said I wish no ill on the man. I hope he succeeds.

I just don't think it is fair to the no doubt hundreds who kept their noses clean working in their news/broadcasting careers and got passed over because they didn't get into drugs and abuse/neglect their families.

It seems to me they should be rewarded more than he. Doing the right thing should be rewarded.

#7 Marie on 2011-01-07 22:27 (Reply)

Marie, I have a saying, Never confuse effort with results. Williams will be successful if he connects with his children, his ex-wives, and his community. He will be successful if he maintains his dignity and spirituality. He will be successful if he remains humble. He will not have "success" in his field the way you are thinking. I think Williams knows in his heart that 10 million hits on the internet does not translate into a career, but just an opportunity. After the hype dies down, he will be just another voice. Granted, it's a good one, but one of many. His ability to "play the system" and by that I mean work in the industry, is not established. In fact he has a poor track record. His challenge isn't exploiting the voice he has, it's meeting the requirements of the industry and the working community. In this way, life will prove "fair". Over their lifetimes, the hard workers you allude to will far out earn Williams. Additionally they will not have the necessity of expending enormous amounts of effort in a short time to repair a lifetime of damage, which truthfully, can never be undone. His modest goals, having a stove to cook a meal on, sleeping in a house rather than in the yard behind a house, he will achieve. He IS doing the right thing. However, today's success is not tomorrows success. His learning to do the "right" thing not just on one day, but every day, will be his legacy. But don't worry. The media that built him up will just as quickly expose every mug shot and crime he has ever committed and his ex wives will line up their attorneys. Whatever "economic rewards" he has will be stripped away and he will be exploited without mercy. Becoming a good man at last, can never be diminished. In fact, that is the real reward, not the ability to gold leaf "Phydeaux" over the dog house door.

#7.1 T.Akin on 2011-01-08 09:24 (Reply)

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Thursday, January 6. 2011

Conning suckers is an art form