Here's an idea, if you want a huge $500,000 house, SAVE up $500,000 and write a check. If you can't save up that much, then you're setting your sights too high in the first place.

Getting a mortgage is like selling your soul: you end up with one paddle in a two-paddle boat to heaven, and if you default, they take the boat, too. Wait...

Oops.. I see it has. Please disregard. I live in Pasadena, where IndyMac HQ is and all the lines were the other day, and a lot of people in line were saying that if they'd known it was at all related to them, they never would have had their money there to begin with.

I don't know if it's been addressed here (sorry -- I'm new) but those Countrywide boys are the same brothers who originally started IndyMac.

@godospoons and @ogman: Countrywide most certainly does exist. It still has the same brand, the same corporate structure, and the same horrible problems that led to its prized place in Consumerist history. Just because it is a wholly owned subsidiary shouldn't get it out of the running for such a well deserved honor.

Such awards are only useful when the pressure invoked can stimulate change. This will do nothing for Countrywide but could have helped countless consumers with future Comcast issues.

Leatherface has gotta look his best to get his award!

RTV!

I hope everyone sees that this final vote was rigged because Diebold lost out to Comcast in the semi-finals.

Brilliant!

You could send the award to my building. We still have a Countrywide office that seems very much up and running in Raleigh, with all the douches still employed. It may be owned by BoA, but the sign still says Countrywide. In fact, on my way in today I heard some woman on her cell phone complaining about a coworker - saying that last week the coworker closed a bunch of loans that weren't underwritten.

Sounds about right.

You know... when you can't quite drop the whole enchilada, and instead wind up with a couple of tater tots? (Pardon me, I was just at the Del Taco post).

I like how this says you're going to send the receipt for the turd to BofA... you should actually bill them for it. See what happens.

But then again, his email address is probably a Countrywide address and since he is gone as CEO, it probably got deleted.

....duh

Still think Starbucks should have won.

How about the Consumerist Biggest Douche in America, sponsored by Summer's Eve?

"You're champions, all of you. Better luck next year."

Nice, Ben... Now I got Queen going thru my mind.... Nothing like envisioning Ken Lewis and Angelo Mozilo embraced, giving all those other companies the finger singing "Weeeee are the CHAMPIONS, my FRIEENNDDS"

@Pro-Pain: Eh, check back for the Consumerist Cold Hard Worst Company In America Power Rankings, sponsored by Coors Light.

How can Best Buy NOT be even in the top 10? That's stupid. I'm not playing anymore. *pout*

FIVE months?? Really?? Sheesh. Maybe a shorter time would be better. No wonder it seemed so drawn out.

As for the "winner"... meh. I didn't have a dog in this fight.

/Having trouble finishing thoughts

*sniff* I'm so proud of you, Countrywide. You have come so far in such a short amount of time. I knew you had it in you all along!

He still deserves it, with the stock dumping, economy pillaging, and general shadiness he promotes.

I'm pretty mad that Countrywide won simply because the contest is such a great idea, and the thought of some executive receiving a golden shit in the mail is just perfection. Granted, they were a shitty company, but Comcast is worse and who is going to get the award now? Some douche at BofA? It's kind of a hollow statement to send an insult at someone who had nothing to do with why you're insulting him.

John Edward is the smarmy psychic. John Edwards is the smarmy politician.

I think the poll was "rigged". If the economy wasn't in peril, I'm sure comcast would have won.

Comcast, you are in next years contest!

> destruction of a giant chunk of the American economy by greed and fraud

That's how they got my vote.

@foxbat2500: I thought that John Edwards won that on South Park...

Is there any way to tell how many of the Countrywide votes came from Comcast Corporate offices?

There it is the biggest douche in the universe.

@warf0x0r: Good point.

Countrywide: Their business model ruined their company and eventually drove them out of business, although they were acquired by BoA.

Comcast: Their business model actually keeps them in business, but the populous hates them so much they actually put them up against a company who basically wrote itself out of business and helped take out a large chuck of Americas "wealth" and economy.

Quite honestly I think it shows Comcast just how bad they are perceived by the public.

@MercuryPDX: Golden plunger for the surely clogged golden toilet. That way, they'll all be connected forever. The end.

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the shit is received.

Golden shower?

Silver urinal maybe?