Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz became the latest to face sharp public backlash over his latest authoritarian lockdown orders.
Blue states including California, New York and New Jersey all have seen push-back with tightening orders recently over what they report to be a significant spike in cases.
But it is unclear to what extent the governors are hoping to tarnish President Donald Trump’s legacy by driving down economic numbers over the holidays, preventing protests over the disputed election and denying him credit for bringing a fast end to the coronavirus pandemic.
Skeptical businesses, caught in the middle of the political power-flex with their entire livelihood on the line are now saying no thanks.
More than 150 businesses planned to reopen over the crucial Christmas-shopping weekend despite Walz’s decrees, according to the Tennessee Star.
The businesses, collectively known as the Reopen Minnesota Coalition, were seeking to organize on Facebook, although it remained to be seen if the online publishing company would implement a draconian crackdown on those efforts as have been seen in its policies censoring other conservative skeptics.
The group posted an open letter to state leaders dismissing what it saw as a disingenuous and inadequate effort at relief funding recently passed by the legislature in St. Paul.
“The businesses represented by the Reopen Minnesota Coalition believe the relief fund package approved yesterday by state leadership amounts to a band-aid when a tourniquet is required,” said the letter.
“The last nine months have needlessly put small business owners and employees in the regrettable position of watching their dreams evaporate before their eyes and their families go without basic necessities,” it continued. “While we are glad to see some at the Capitol waking up to that reality, it is far too late to course-correct with half measures.”
Instead, they recommended the revocation of Walz’s emergency powers.
“[W]e are heartened that more House and Senate Democrats than ever have realized that he is far outstepping his constitutional powers and voted to end them yesterday,” said the letter. “They realize that what he is doing to so many of their constituents is bordering on criminal.”
The group also has fundraising pages set up to support the legal costs and other expenses of persecuted businesses. Among them is Brandon Reiter, owner of the Plainview Wellness Center. The newly engaged Army veteran had opened the gym only to be targeted and sued by Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The growing movement against Walz comes as the governor himself faced an accusation of violating his own executive order.
After a group of performers posted photographs at the governor’s mansion and thanked the governor for allowing them to sing, online commenters were quick to note the new policy about outdoor recreational activities.
View this post on Instagram
Recall efforts, meanwhile, were gaining steam against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who implemented devastating lockdown orders only to be caught selectively enforcing them with exceptions for his left-wing cronies.
Newsom was forced to issue a mea culpa after video showed him recklessly partying indoors with a large crowd of non-relatives, including lobbyists, for a birthday party at Napa Valley’s ritzy French Laundry restaurant.
