Kemp Bungled Georgia’s Reopening
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m willing to grant tremendous latitude to any executive handling their respective Covid-19 response.
However, it seems increasingly clear that Governor Kemp is lurching from one decision to the next without a clear strategy. Or if he has one, it’s not a good strategy.
Let’s start with his decision to reopen businesses and not allowing local governments to set their own policy. Not only has Governor Kemp hemmed and hawed about the state’s overriding authority, giving increased control across the board to local governments was a key campaign promise.
Senator Kerry couldn’t flip flop that much.
Not notifying his task force on handling Covid-19 response?
And more importantly: why alienate large communities of Georgians with his decision-making process?
There’s certainly far more unknown unkowns for Governor Kemp to deal with right now. But it’s also imperative he devise well thought out, well communicated and well executed plans.
Currently he’s 0-for-3.
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I think lurching is a fair description of Kemp’s CV19 responses.
Just because he says I can go out Friday and get a haircut and a massage and bowl a few lines doesn’t mean I will. In medical matters I tend to trust medical pros. Kemp is risking a lot in opening up the state–if the number of state cases/deaths spikes upwards again he’ll pay a real price, although not a fair one–but I suspect he is much more interested in the state’s diminished top line this year and next than he is in sticking with a conservative medical regimen. Good luck to us all.
Not sure why you don’t think Kemp has clear strategy. Right wing strategy is profits over people. He’s acting as advertised.
Former GAGOP official Leo Smith and Kemp coronavirus task force member, in response to Kemp reopening some businesses said he would have preferred a “heads up,” but that he understands the governor must make quick decisions in the case of an emergency.
Because hey, deciding to open barbershops and bowling alleys near the peak of a pandemic requires split second timing.
Then there were other members of the task force that confirmed they too weren’t notified of Kemp’s decision before he made it public, but declined to comment publicly because they were concerned they would alienate the governor.
Because deference to Kemp is more important than transparency and task force work.
A week ago Monday, Trump had “total authority” to restart the economy: https://nypost.com/2020/04/13/trump-claims-he-has-total-authority-to-reopen-economy/
The next day, the stable genius had realized he’d might be accountable for missteps and mistakes, so it was up the states: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-04-14/trump-claims-he-has-total-authority-over-reopening-economy — the characteristic Trump no-win / lose, Trumps gets any wins but never any losses.
On Thursday, Trump said the restart should be phased in and based on his administration’s guidelines: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493222-trump-guidelines-reopening-economy-to-let-governors-make-final-decision
The next day Trump tweeted support for protesters (some of which were unlawful and giving rise to some in the GOP calling them modern day Rosa Parks’) against Dem Governor’s in swing states MN, MI and VA following Trump administration guidelines: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/17/liberate-trump-tweets-support-protesting-against-stay-at-home-orders/
Trump immediately mocking his own administration’s guidelines (like he did concerning wearing a mask) and a similar protest being organized to occur at the Capitol in Atlanta Friday satisfied for Kemp the Trump administration’s requirements for reopening by Friday.
Out here in the boondocks, not many masks or gloves seen at the stores. I saw maybe 5 people out of 20 wearing a mask at the local grocery store. We have not really had much restriction except the government offices, barbershops, and sit down restaurants all closed.
One bright spot in this depressing time is that the robocalls have quit calling my landline.
Excellent video.