Why Is Louisiana Staying Closed?
Plus, a barbecue sauce that is literally the only good thing to come out of Alabama.
Last week, all the signs were that John Bel Edwards, Louisiana’s Democratic governor, would be sticking to his timeline and re-opening the state as of this Friday, May 1. We are currently in week seven of the state’s shelter-in-place order.
The state is one of many suffering from both the COVID-19 outbreak and joblessness, though the data has been looking pretty good and we were under the impression we’d be able to begin the re-opening process this week. That impression was, in large part, given to us by Edwards himself.
So during Monday’s press conference, when Edwards announced he’d be extending the stay-at-home order, it came as a bit of a shock. We are now sheltering in place until May 15, a full two weeks later, despite the data showing we have been improving.
The rate of transmission (referred to as “Rt”) is below 1 in Louisiana. In fact, it’s among the lowest in the nation at .78. If the Rt is below 1, that means the virus is not spreading very fast. Having an Rt below 1 is considered one of the signs that you can re-open.
Moreover, the data does not line up with what Edwards is saying with regards as to why he is extending the order. A post on Tiger Droppings breaks down a discrepancy in what Edwards said and what the data shows. What’s more, state representative Alan Seabaugh appeared on 710 KEEL in Shreveport and said that the governor had told Republicans the state would be opening up on time.
Seabaugh states that, in a recent conference call between a number of Republican legislators and Edwards, the Governor lied about his plans regarding the emergency declaration. "He lied in a Republican delegation meeting. We had - I think - 63 out of 67 Republicans on the phone and he said, 'Businesses are going to start reopening on May 1st....that's a direct quote."
The Shreveport representative also is adamant in his feelings that the people of Louisiana can't take too much more of the economic quarantine. "Poverty kills more people every year than sickness or disease. Poverty kills people...and right now what we're doing is we're forcing people into poverty."
I have publicly praised Edwards for doing a good job of leading us through this crisis, and the fact that the numbers are going down is a sign that sheltering in place was the right call. But we have been at it for nearly two months and there are many in Louisiana suffering from unemployment, or, if they are business owners, their businesses are going under completely. Because the economic activity in the state has ground to a halt, we’re looking at a big stall in a state that has been slower to recover from the recession than other states.
I’m not sure, though, what’s in it for Edwards to extend that order. Most speculation is federal money, which would make sense. We’re looking at a huge budget deficit, and he has not been a big fan of cutting the budget, to say the least. If he gets federal money to help make up for those shortfalls, then he won’t have to worry for at least a year. However, the effects of this economic stall are going to be felt beyond this budget year. We already have an outmigration problem in Louisiana, and it’s guaranteed that when other southern states are back to booming and we’re not, many in Louisiana will be even more inclined to leave.
So, it really feels like this is doing more harm than good. It is another two weeks, and while I know I can make it, I am very worried about the people who are currently on the edge of not making it.
Stacey Abrams Is Very Loudly Running For Vice President
…And it’s a bad sign for Georgia Democrats.
Abrams has been spending a lot of time making her case in a very public way to be Joe Biden’s vice presidential nominee. This is pretty unprecedented in presidential politics, and it’s getting a lot of attention.
And a lot of puff pieces. The problem with all those puff pieces is that they ignore two key things:
What’s missing here are two things. The first, I’ve already alluded to: She has no qualifications whatsoever. The second thing, however, is something most Democrats on the national level are ignoring and most Democrats in the state of Georgia are probably starting to realize: Abrams’ focus on the VP pick means she has no interest in Georgia.
As close as she was to winning the governor’s mansion in 2018, you would think that continuing to lay the groundwork and attacking Kemp at every turn is a smart play to keep her name alive in the state. But, based on all these media reports, she has all but abandoned Georgia and is seeking a national platform here. That seems to be a pretty big sign that she sees no path forward in the state and is skipping ahead on her career path.
If Abrams saw Georgia Governor as a job title that could springboard her to a national presidential run, then this becomes even clearer – and given how she has forced herself into the limelight at every opportunity since she ran, it’s clear that her ambitions extended far beyond the state’s lines. However, Abrams has done favors only for herself and has not used her influence to help the Democratic Party in Georgia, which is looking more and more like it will not be very competitive in the coming election cycles.
The national media is not paying attention to it, just like they paid no attention to her in 2018 when she was running for governor. They focused all their attention on Beto O’Rourke and now feel a sense of white guilt and are trying to push her now. But, she has no future in Georgia politics, and it’s clear from how loudly she’s campaigning for VP that she sees no future for the Democrats in Georgia, so she’s getting out while the getting’s good.
Homestyle Podcast: Connecting During Social Distancing
This week’s Homestyle is all about maintaining human contact during these times of social distancing. Leigh and I talk about keeping up with family and friends and how we’re trying to keep personal and social lives going. Give it a listen.
Recipe Of The Week: Alabama White Sauce
This is perhaps the only good thing to come out of Alabama with the exception of comedian Roy Wood, Jr. This sauce is particularly good with chicken, and also goes well with pork. The horseradish component also means that a good smoked prime rib will benefit from it, but I promise you that chicken is the perfect vessel for it.
The key here is understanding that the tanginess of the vinegar, the heat of the horseradish, and the creaminess of the mayonnaise all come together in a way you may not have been ready for. Adding a little extra flavor pop with garlic, spicy brown mustard, and black pepper, you have a great flavor profile that is excellent on a smoked bird.
2 cups mayonnaise
1.5 tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 tsp. garlic power
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp. brown sugar
Worchestershire, to taste
Mix all incredients into a large mason jar, stirring until mixed.
Shake vigorously.
Use what’s needed and store the rest in the fridge.
Final Thoughts
We need a more honest media that is not couching the Tara Reade allegations gaining steam as a political opportunity being used by Trump and his allies. This is a real scandal that Biden has not directly been asked about in his numerous television appearances, and over the weekend, top female campaign surrogates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer weren’t asked, either. It’s time the question gets asked, and seriously.