Day 31

Cheatin' Brian Kemp, the man who stole the Georgia election away from Stacey Abrams, apparently didn't bother informing mayors about his decision before announcing that the businesses most likely to spread coronavirus - salons, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, and so on - will be open for business tomorrow.  Georgia's shelter-in-place order doesn't end until April 30 but Kemp is reopening nonessential businesses almost a week earlier, which would encourage Georgians to break his own order. 

Trump hung Kemp out to dry for his decision during yesterday's coronavirus briefing and when even Donald Trump thinks you’re stupid, you’re probably Brian Kemp.  According to Stephen Robinson of Wonkette, "The president, who never met a mad scheme he didn't like, denounced Kemp's plan to turn Georgia into a statewide morgue — even though Kemp was clearly, obviously, transparently reopening ridiculous businesses that will most spread coronavirus in order to butter up Trump. Trump's the man who egged on the protesters demanding we 'reopen' the states. Now all of a sudden, when a sycophant does what he demanded, he's President Measure Twice Cut Once."  

As Trump put it during yesterday's briefing: 

I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities, which are in violation of the Phase 1 guidelines, for the incredible people of Georgia. They're incredible. I love those people. They're great. They've been strong, resolute. But at the same time, [Kemp] must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right. But I disagree with him on what he's doing.

Trump said it was “too soon" to reopen spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors, and barbershops.  "I love those people who use all those things . . . I love them. They can wait a little bit longer . . . just a little bit, not much. Because safety has to predominate."

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was “perplexed" by Kemp's choice to reopen now and didn't think it was "based on anything that is logical." Savannah Mayor Van Johnson slammed Kemp as “reckless."  Even South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who suddenly realized that Georgia was a neighboring state, tweeted, "I have great respect for Governor Kemp and believe that future re-openings can occur rather quickly but we must get Phase I right."

Meanwhile, Georgia is in its third tornado watch in the last 10 days. There was a brief thundershower this morning but it passed quickly and without incident, and the rain has since let up for much of the day.  A second wave of storms is forecast to hit later tonight, but it looks like the worst of it is hitting south Georgia and missing Atlanta.  That sucks for the people of Albany, Georgia, who are already suffering one of the nation's highest mortality rates from covid-19 even before Cheatin' Brian Kemp opened up the nail salons and massage parlors, but so far "only" severe thunderstorms are forecast for Atlanta.