ADDING INSULT TO INJURY: SAMBOL FROM COUNTRYWIDE FLIES COMPANY JET FOR 3 WEEK AFRICAN VACATION

Some things never change.

David Sambol, the out-going president of kaput mortgage giant Countrywide Financial Corp., is taking his family on an African vacation — on Countrywide’s Gulfstream IV.

Yes, the guy in charge of the company that sold hundreds of thousands of suspect mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them is leaving on a jet plane, for a nice three-week-long vacation in Africa with his family.

But you know, it’s been a stressful year for Mr. Sambol, what with his company nearly collapsing and that stressful fire sale to Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). Not to mention being hauled before Congress to account for his part in helping facilitate the global credit crisis.

Marie Antoinette would have understood completely. “Let them take a vacation,” she would have said. “An African safari would be nice. The kids will love it.”

Sambol got about $9 million in stock as part of his package when Bank of America bought Countrywide for $4 billion in January, and another $28 million in cash and stock for staying with the company until the purchase was complete, according to news reports and SEC filings. As part of his exit deal, Sambol gets use of the company jet for business and personal reasons as long as he is employed. Bank of America will also also continue to pay his country club dues, according to filings.

Hard to hear if you’re losing your home to foreclosure, or if your small business is being strangled due to lack of credit. Or if you’re one of the thousands of working folk who’s been laid off from Countrywide or are expecting your pink slip any day now from Bank of America. In fact, you might find it outrageous and immoral. But there’s lots of historical precedent to back up his actions. After all, You know, Nero fiddled a nice little tune while Rome burned. Maybe Sambol can pick up some nice African drums while he’s on his vacation.