Raghuveer P. Nayak, who is “Individual D” in the Federal Complaint against Blagojevich, has asked for immunity, in exchange for testimony about Blagojevich.

Nayak, 54, is an Indian emigrant, who owns successful medical supply companies, clinics, and drug stores — and enjoys raising money for politicians. Nayak is smart, because he also contributed funds to three politicians, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who want Blagojevich to resign.

Nayak has connections to Jackson’s family. He traveled to India, with Jesse Jackson, Sr., and owned a business with Jonathan Jackson, who is Representative Jackson’s brother.

How’s the Weather?

On October 31^st, Nayak hosted a luncheon, where he discussed raising a million dollars, to persuade Governor Blagojevich, to put Jesse Jackson, Jr. in the Senate.

Jackson has acknowledged speaking to Nayak. However, Jackson maintains that he did not know that Nayak wanted to raise a million dollars, to bribe Blagojevich, to put him in the Senate.

What else was there to talk about?

This is today’s bewilderment:

After Barack Obama won the election, he left the Senate, leaving Illinois with only one Senator. Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, was supposed to select a replacement, who would serve the rest of Obama’s term in the Senate.

This is also happening in New York, where Governor Paterson will appoint a Senator to replace Hillary Clinton, who will be Secretary of State.

Unfortunately, Governor Blagojevich did not want to appoint anyone. He preferred to sell Obama’s seat to Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., for up to a million dollars. Blagojevich was arrested, because he discussed it on a telephone, while the FBI was listening to his conversations.

The FBI began Operation Board Games in December 2003, to investigate Governor Blagojevich, who was suspected of corruption. Part of this investigation was conducted by listening to, and recording, Blagojevich’s telephone conversations.

Blagojevich was finally arrested on December 8^th, and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of soliciting bribes — but he will likely be charged with additional crimes. He returns to court March 31.

Idiotic Criminals

The day after his release, which happened to be his birthday, Blagojevich went back to work, as if nothing happened.

I have no compassion for criminals, whether it is Blagojevich, or John Gotti, who were recorded, while they spoke about engaging in criminal activities. They are just idiots who were arrested because they talked too much.

What? Me Guilty?

Today, nine days after his birthday, Blagojevich proclaimed his innocence of these charges saying:

“I have done nothing wrong and I’m not going to quit this job”

I like rooting for the underdog, but I read the complaint, and it is impossible to refute the evidence. Blagojevich disagrees. Undaunted, he tried to rouse the crowd at his Press Conference, like he was leading a cheer, proclaiming:

“I will fight! I will fight!”

What is he fighting for? The right to accept bribes?

As Ellen used to say, “He was having too much fun, but now he is having very little fun.”

Blagojevich’s fun diminished, after he tried to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, while FBI was listening to his telephone conversations. He has not resigned, so he will probably be impeached soon.

Obama spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said:

“Under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois”

According to Federal Complaint, this idiot, “discussed whether he could obtain an ambassadorship in exchange for the Senate seat” and that “he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5” – who has been identified as Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Jackson’s emissaries, reportedly offered Governor Blagojevich up to a million dollars for the privilege of replacing Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Idiots Respond

Representative Jackson said:

“I did not initiate or authorize anyone, at any time, to promise anything to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf”

Deputy Governor Robert Greenlee, who “suggested putting together a list of things that Rod Blagojevich would accept in exchange for the Senate seat” — has resigned.

Governor Blagojevich went to work on his birthday, at 8:18 A.M.

The program was announced by Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, and Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

The New York Times, in Screening for Brain Injury Is Set for Illinois Veterans, by Libby Sander, quoted Dr. Felise S. Zollman, medical director of the brain injury program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, who described the program:

“The mandatory screening would consist of a written questionnaire, an assessment by a medical professional, and a professional interpretation of the results. Service members believed to show symptoms of a brain injury would be referred for assessment and further treatment at a veterans’ center.”

In Illinois Unveils Mental Health Services for Returning Guardsmen, Veterans, by Donna Miles, reporting for American Forces Press Service, quoted Dr. Samuel Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, who explained why mandatory testing is necessary:

“We’ve got these post-deployment questionnaires that you fill out when you leave theater.

When I left Iraq, I filled out a questionnaire that said: ‘Were you near an (improvised explosive device) that went off? Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you having trouble controlling your feelings?’ And so forth, and so on.

A lot of people check ‘no’ because they want to get home.

[Questionnaires have been retooled so that] even if they check ‘yes,’ they’re going to get home and get the care when they get home, he said, adding that this will help promote more honest responses.”

The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, says that:

In prior conflicts, TBI was present in at least 14–20% of surviving combat casualties; preliminary information from the current conflict in the Middle East suggests that this number is now much higher.

It is about time that someone is taking some steps to identify this problem.