Ed Yingling Wins "Golden Throne" Award

The Center for Media and Democracy has unveiled new icon to go with Wall Street's golden parachutes and golden handcuffs: The Golden Throne, an award saluting the behind-the-scenes work of spinmeisters and lobbyists.

It's a golden toilet. Or at least it's a picture of a golden toilet, with a hundred dollar bill handy for the wiping.

The award's first recipient: Ed Yingling, president of the American Bankers' Association.

From the press release:

Few have done more to earn a place on this seat of honor. From his days as a cub lobbyist fighting to rid the nation of caps on interest rates, Glass-Steagall and other proven consumer protections to his recent yeoman's effort to keep bank fees unregulated and kill off the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Edward Yingling has consistently been a true advocate for the American Bankster.

Read the rest here.

-- Arthur Delaney

Comments

[THSee]

12:44 AM on 09/19/2009

Really lame-o image. An hour to create, tops.

[breakingpoint]

11:56 PM on 09/18/2009

I think Summer should get the award, look how close he got to the highest power in the land.
Guy should be at least shunned for abolishing Glass-Steagall.

Things are pretty quiet in America because Obama is in change - imagine if McCain won - the streets would be full from both sides

It's time for rank and file democrats and liberals to give Obama some tough love, time for him to get busy with the Banks, the Fed, Wall Street Big Pharm and Big Insurance - otherwise people are going to start thinking he's their puppet.

[MarkInEugene]

11:31 PM on 09/18/2009

Someone throw him a mop and bucket and have him start cleaning public restrooms...he seriously needs a reality check!

[NeoconGal]

11:21 PM on 09/18/2009

The complete records of lobbyists should be made public along with the names of the so called lawmakers they deal with.

[HamletsMill]

02:17 AM on 09/19/2009

Very true. I have added this to my list. Good point. Thank you!

[stevemarvin]

10:02 PM on 09/18/2009

Banks and congress commingling
All their pockets a jingling
While our assets go yingling

[ragtag]

09:58 PM on 09/18/2009

I prefer Charmin.

Speaking of ... here's a perfect capitalist endeavor. Someone should figure out a way to imprint his/her favorite political action figure on rolls of toilet paper!

Just thinking about all of the potential targets makes my head swoon...

[hopeforchangenow]

09:19 PM on 09/18/2009

Someone flush him.

[ReligiousWar]

08:37 PM on 09/18/2009

What can we do to make bribery a crime and enforce that law. A system where corporations would loose their license and politicians would lose their jobs for taking or offering money for favor

[hopeforchangenow]

09:21 PM on 09/18/2009

Only in our political arena is bribery legal. If you or I tried to bribe one of the elected a$$holes we would wind up in jail.

[macohmz]

09:22 PM on 09/18/2009

It ain't gonna happen while the Democrats and Republicans are in charge. I think it's useless to look to them to change themselves. They just can't say no to lobbyists. Especially if the lobbyist is their wife or some relative. More than likely it will be a retired political figure. In my view America's number 1 problem is the Democrat and Republican parties. And problem1-a, is the lobbyists.

[lazercat2008]

08:27 PM on 09/18/2009

Total Lobbying Expenditures: $6,062,296
Subtotal for Parent American Bankers Assn: $5,500,000
Subtotal for Subsidiary New York Bankers Assn: $180,000
Subtotal for Subsidiary American Bankers Insurance Assn: $140,000
Subtotal for Subsidiary Pennsylvania Bankers Assn: $104,796
Subtotal for Subsidiary American Bankers Assn Securities Assn: $100,000
Subtotal for Subsidiary California Bankers Assn: $37,500

[Lahonda]

08:22 PM on 09/18/2009

He needs a Golden Influence Probe!

[DeSwiss]

07:41 PM on 09/18/2009

Although I think you're headed in the right direction, a gold crapper to acknowledge this mutant's dubious achievements, is a bit much. I had something more along the lines of a sewer pipe in mind.

That's where one usually finds most of the slime.....

[mergina]

08:16 PM on 09/18/2009

Yes, one of the RATS IN THE SEWER INDEED.