Day 29

First of all, yes, Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp really does wear a fleece that says "Brian Kemp, The Governor of Georgia" on it.  

Monday, in a move that breaks from the majority of state leaders and defies the warnings of many public health officials, Kemp announced  that certain businesses in Georgia can reopen this week. Specifically, he said that fitness centers, bowling alleys, tattoo studios, barbers, hair and nail salons, and massage parlors can reopen as early Friday, April 24, causing many Georgians to wonder if Kemp knows there are other businesses in the state other than massage parlors, tattoo studios, bowling alleys and barber shops.  Theaters and restaurants will be allowed to open on Monday, April 27, while bars and night clubs will remain closed for now.

Not April 30th when his previous but belated shelter-in-place order would have expired.  Not May 1 when Trump's national order runs out.  This Friday, April 24, because why not?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Brian Kemp cheated his way into office by continuing to act as Secretary of State while running in the very election his office was in charge of supervising.  As Secretary of State, Kemp nullified the registrations of thousands of voters, mostly black and Latinx, while he was running against a woman of color (the formidable Stacey Abrams).  Kemp ran a campaign ad where he pointed a shotgun at a teenage boy and another where he said he may have to use his pickup truck to round up "illegals" on his own.  He campaigned as the "trumpiest" candidate in the race, as Georgia's home-grown version of the Donald.

Despite enormous pressure otherwise, including an endorsement from the Donald himself for a different candidate, he picked the politically inexperienced multi-millionaire Kelly Loeffler for the Senate seat vacated by Johnny Isakson.  Loeffler promptly got caught with her hand in the cookie jar after it was learned that she dumped stock after a closed-door Senate hearing on the coronavirus pandemic, although she continued to publicly say that there was no crisis, everything was under control.

And his coup de grace, the crowning achievement of his record of dumbness, was declaring at the beginning of April that it was only learned "within the past 24 hours" that the coronavirus can be transmitted by people without visible symptoms (Dr. Fauci  told us that in a late January press briefing, with Kemp's precious Donald standing right next to him).   

Stupid is as stupid does, and in this case, Kemp's stupidity is going to get his constituents killed.  It's an act of criminally negligent homicide, and I can only hope that I'm not one of the victims.  Make no mistake about it, the death rate here in Georgia - both in total numbers and in percentage - will rise.

Some say he's doing it to curry favor with his boyfriend and role model, the Donald.  Others say it's to purge the unemployment roles.  Low-wage workers can't continue receiving unemployment benefits if they willingly choose not to work. Kemp is forcing them to decide to either starve or contract a highly infectious and physically debilitating illness. 

Whatever the motives, its reckless and irresponsible.  He's made it that much more dangerous to live in this state, where, by the way, its legal to carry concealed weapons in all of the businesses listed above.  

I don't want to sound overdramatic, but it may get me, a Georgia resident, killed.   But at least I'll die comforted by the knowledge that Kemp's approval ratings with the MAGA base is solid.