I lived in Gabby Giffords district at the time and went to one of her "Congress at your Corner" events. Mark was there too and talked with me a bit before I got my 2 minutes with the Congresswoman. He couldn't have been nicer, listened to my issue, and then handed me off to Gabby with a "listen to this guy, he has a great idea".

I think he would make a great VP pick.

What was the great idea?

to study putting solar panels on top of refer truck trailers. As an investment at that time, I bought a used tractor trailer rig with a refer trailer. Those trailers have a totally independent fuel / generator system for running the freezer that keeps the frozen produce frozen. They run off of a "small" diesel tank under the trailer. Many of those systems now are equipped with a "shore power" option when they are parked and you don't want to burn the diesel when you have a electrical hookup handy ( many truck stops have this now ).

The diesel costs a fair amount for running the refrigeration.

I worked out the number of solar panels and mounting system, the inverter needed, and the mechanism to hook up the power to the shore power input of the refer... and then the cost savings of independent owner operators over a 4 or 5 year time frame. However the panels and inverter and labor to install, etc would be a major expense for many small trucking firms so I was looking for some money to explore the concept and then later, bigger money to finance the small trucking companies and independent truckers to be able to afford adding this feature. Not free money, just a 3 to 4 year loan. Reduce the consumption of diesel for over the road truckers, especially along I-10 which ran through her district.

The benefit to her was creating jobs in Cochise county to build a company that would install and service these solar equipped trucks ( my investment ). I wasn't looking for a handout to build the company, just some seed money to build the first such trailer to prove the concept... plus a promise to look at the revolving government sponsored finance (at least until the banks figured it was a good business).

She was receptive to the idea being that she was a big proponent of rooftop solar in southern AZ.

Other things came along and the idea never followed through and I sold my truck and trailer to a guy that drove it for me and got out of the trucking business, moved back to California... and then she was shot in the head at another "Congress on your Corner" event a year or so later. So it all died. Don't know if anyone else has done this or tried it. Solar costs have continued to decline so it would not surprise me. One issue that I hadn't solved is that typical rooftop mounting kits add a few inches on height... and on the top of a tractor trailer... those clearances are very important at some bridges and loading docks, etc. so the entire idea might not be workable.

on required rest.

although I did think about a umbilical connection to the cab to run the extensive amount of power for the live aboard cabs when the engine is turned off. The other problem is that I wasn't going to disconnect the diesel generator portion of the refrigeration system, just connect my solar system to the shore power connection for the trailer. Meaning that there is no battery or energy storage system. Usually truckers prefer to drive during the day and park at night (depending if they are driving into side streets of a city or passing through during rush hours).

But sure... add extra utility for such a system might be a good idea.

I once did the math on the number of active refer trailers in the USA... and the amount of diesel they consume, and the cost of the fuel is really eye-popping.

Don't have the numbers handy but the amount of savings to the economy was rather substantial.

When I was at NASA in the 1990s, we put an entire semi truck and trailer into our giant wind tunnel and some guy at NASA had invented these over the cab cowlings or fairings that created better laminar wind flow over the truck. We tested a number of designs with various results... and found we could save about 6% to 8% of the fuel costs for the fleet of tractor trailers in the USA. Published it... and next thing you know, almost every rig in the nation has them. That one invention alone pays for the entire NASA budget every year with industry fuel savings. Not to mention cheaper food and goods for everyone to buy.

Fluid Dynamics!

Or as we used to say "Rocket Science is easy... Computational Fluid Dynamics is really hard!"

that might well solve the issue of increased height.

And no I haven't... I was looking at rooftop solar panels in 2008... now 16 years ago. I suspect the cost and utility would be more favorable to the concept now.

I was looking at versions of this for the refer system:

https://www.thermoking.com/na/en/road/trailers/single-temperature-controlled-units/precedent-s-750i.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqf20BhBwEiwAt7dtdQdeQrhsPb05iMLNBODJxuHrjA0TujJKTlt6FOzASbc0lVuGndP3LxoCtdoQAvD_BwE

but standard solar panels with their standoffs, etc. for the top of the trailer. Add an inverter under the trailer, end with a standard A/C plug for the refer unit. Of course, it seems sort of silly to take DC from solar, make it into A/C, and plug it into a power supply that is going to deliver DC again. But such is life. This idea was all more or less "off the shelf" parts. Perhaps the only thing to fabricate was the frame work for attaching the standoffs to the trailer, and the wiring to the inverter and then back to the refer unit. Everything added would have to meet code for electrical appliances on private transportation.

Imagine the energy that would save too…

Back in the early 90's I was a freshly minted flight test engineer working in teh Carrier Suitability depart at what would become the VX-23 flight test squadron. Mark was a test pilot in my department. His brother Scott was a test pilot in the Ordnance department. He was an excellent officer, and a first class person.

Both would tear into CF#45 and talk more to the American people about the dangers of Project 2025 as well as continuing forward the good that has been done so far.

I agree with you. He’s great too! Very popular in PA and a great swing state to lock in. Will be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Very few Republicans will abandon him. So tired of hearing this. We've got a hard slog the next few months and need to put everything we have into it.

In every election that I can recall, "real Republicans" have abandoned their candidate, only to find him again in November.

In Virginia is an alleged “never Trump” blog, Bearing Drift. One of the regulars is former VA LtGov Bill Bolling.

After being a decent, loyal, hard-working Republican all his life, Bolling was shafted by the Tea Party mob who nominated far-right Ken Cuccinelli to run as Governor when they should have run Bolling. Cooch lost to Terry McAuliffe, who was the first Democratic governor in years.

Bolling’s commentary on Bearing Drift is studied, carefully reasoned, and well-presented. That is, until last week when Bolling announced that he had voted for Trump in 2020 and would do the same in 2024, thereby wiping out his four-year record of criticizing Trump and of appearing to have good sense.

Ditto for the rest of the “moderate” Republicans on BD — they all return to Trump in the end.

DECADES of tirelessly going on about how "liberals" are the sum total of all that the devil spawns, and these people will bring themselves to say or do ANYTHING to do their part by voting R in the epic war against liberals.

We need the young and women and minorities to come out in full force.

That's not much of an "abandonment."

They are never trumpers and will make sure AZ never goes to anything maga.

1.) Darwin Award Winning Fascists
2.) Machiavellian Fascists

The GOP is an ongoing criminal enterprise intent on destroying our representative democracy and establishing a fascist theocracy ruled by plutocrats and oligarchs.

Only fascists will vote for Trump.

Republicans might. Independents willl.

bandage.

But the best ----- Maggots at the convention, wearing sanitary mini-pads taped to their ears.

All we have to do is get out the vote.
And Kamala is doing that.

I'm a Shapiro guy myself.

He just needs bars, a jump suit, tape on his mouth and NO electronics. This should have happened decades ago as deserved

Unless there is some catastrophic mistake that happens between now and November, but as we have seen.... our leadership is too smart and they know there is too much at stake...

We need to put more focus into down ballot races, because that's all the GOP has now.

(and I know that Hobbs could appoint a replacement but still...)

oh wait, we did!

Same name, looks the same… Come election time, it will be a slam dunk.

I.e., a tactic that several GOP-majority legislature states with Democratic governors have done is to completely neuter the power of any Democratic governor.

E.g., (NC) and recently, KY - Republican-passed bill removes role of Democratic governor if Senate vacancy occurs in Kentucky

It's bad enough that the herpes that is Kari Lake, is still trying to hang on.

I was thinking that it expired in 2026.

and whether the state legislature would try to interfere with a temporary appointment.

We already have Gallego who will hopefully take Sinema's seat by a good margin but still...

that will help Ruben Gallego in his Senate run against election denier Kari Lake. Which could leave us with two Democratic US Senators in AZ.

That's a big plus.

see this - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19222275

I don't want to poke a fragile but lethal hornet's nest in states like that.

But I am afraid the legislature might try to mess with the appointment powers like they did in NC and KY (although I believe they don't have a super-majority to override a veto there).

I don't want an unstable Senate because we are already losing a seat from WV (unless we can kick Cruz out, which is a tall order). We already have Menendez going bye bye (and he'll be replaced by a (D) in NJ), but they have a (D) legislature too.

plus he'd have a much better military background than Vance
And he's a young man of 60!

Would campaigning and moving to DC be too much for Gabby? I don't know but I'm sure that he would take that into account if he were offered the position. Gabby continues to suffer from the attack on her.

He puts a real face on sensible gun control.

Ex military and on armed services committee.

Well respected by the few normal Republicans left and will make sense to independent voters.

If that doesn't speak to white men, I don't know what does.

He'd be a great choice.

He has no fear.

would be happy to vote for Harris/Kelly, so I think he would help bring in more Republicans and independents.

Last edited Tue Jul 23, 2024, 07:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Vance will be shredded horse manure before the debate is done.

Sen. Kelly has more experience at the federal level than all the others. He has that magnificent quality - stature. I know, it's a west coast ticket. How often has geographic balance been decisive in the last 40 years? We fight politics mostly on ideology, economic, and social issues now, which are not very geographic.

a moderate.

...where I could say, okay, worst case, we can get through a few years of that, the country won't fall apart. I won't like the policies, but at least they would govern rationally and color within the lines. Trump is a different level of threat, so I feel like there's no margin for error.

Because if he wins we're now stuck with election denier Kim Ward as lt governor

I did not realize that! Kim Ward? No, no, no!

doesn't bring in the excitement needed... I can see the point.

the poster likened him to Hillary picking Tim Kaine

I read that and thought, whoa, they’re really scared of Mark Kelly. The only thing they could come up with is, “he’s too nice.” Read it again and consider the source this time.

I was all in for Shapiro but Kelly is now also high on my list. I'm just worried about PA.

If Kelly is tapped for VP, what happens to his Senate seat? Governor appointed?

.

Vice-President/Astronaut just sounds bad ass.

But anything /Astronaut sounds bad ass.

And the fact that he'll bring a Second Lady with an inspiring story is even better.

He or Shapiro are my top 2. Cooper is great too.

Dems have a very deep and talented bench right now. A lot of super stars rising.

Know how to swing a verbal axe handle. Call these scumbags out all day long.

No Green Bay sweep.

The man's office promised me over the phone on more than one occasion that they would do everything in their power to get us over the hump and ended up doing absolutely nothing. But beating that orange asshole is more important than a four year battle I fought and won in March.

I will never forgive him or his office to their lack of help (something I will never do with John Fetterman because he did get us over the hump), but if Harris picks him (I think Shapiro would be a better choice), he is the party's nominee's choice and will get my vote.

But my disdain for him and his office will not change.

Maybe not.

here after 16 posts.

Those here who read and watched know my issues with Kelly and his office.

That being said, in politics, people sometimes have to hold their nose. He may be the VEEP (I prefer Shapiro) but it will not change my vote. Defeating Trump again is #1 priority, not holding a grudge against the ticket because my former senator and his office made promises they never had any intent on following through on.

I read a great deal about your struggles with the CCP.

I know a bit about how things work there and here. Sorry your experience was not better.

My point was that the OP was about Kelly being the VP, not about your trouble with your international marriage. It is like how the right blames Biden for everything under the sun. Some things do not make it all the way to the top. You can be mad at the politician for the shortcomings of his staff, but you have to remember that there are millions of people in AZ and lots of them are reaching out for one thing or another.

If you feel the need to influence people's opinion of Kelly at a time like this over your experiences with regard to your marriage, have at it.

It is a free country, for now.

I said I would vote for the ticket. Why are you looking for a fight?

Again, less than 100 posts and you're being this aloof and aggressive?

If this is about electoral math, Shapiro is a better choice.

Whoever the AZ governor appointed would have to run again in 2026 and 2028 and Kelly barely won that seat. No guarantee the replacement would win.

There is a reason why he is one of the top, if not the top, fundraisers in the Democratic Party.

Obviously Kelly would be a great choice too. I would hate to lose him in the Senate though. And even though Hobbs would replace him, I’d worry about that person being able to hold the seat.
Shapiro is a star. I think he’s wonderful.
Andy is a two term governor. Red State. Progressive. He’d be a great President. And he has Appalachia. Many counties in that region of KY went blue for Andy. I don’t think he’d put KY in play, but I think he’d be great on the trail in the rust belt. He respects blue collar workers. I met him once protesting for teachers when Bevin was Governor. Such a nice guy. He stood and talked to us and gave us his undivided attention.

Not sure why. He seems like a pretty good choice.

I've seen reports from ABC and MSNBC within roughly the same timeframe.
He was on the former's list but not the latter.

I'm in PA and mostly love Shapiro, but am a huge Governor Andy fan and think he brings a good balance. Plus he managed the pandemic like a champ. The world needs more "Govern me, daddy" t-shirts, lol.

we must work as hard as ever up until the polls close.

Getting a batch of post cards this week.

As heard on the radio, he isn't for Medicare for all. And he thinks Medicare Advantage is just fine for seniors.

Pass.

Shapiro.

35 plus one day?

Kelly would risk losing a Democratic Senate seat. Shapiro would risk losing a Democratic governorship of a big and important Midwestern state. Whitmer, it sounds like, doesn't want the job. Roy Cooper is leaving office, no sitting Democratic office at risk. He is a Southern white man who has won an important Southern state twice. I will support the Democratic ticket, whoever is in the bottom half, but I hope it won't be somebody who has to give up an important currently held Democratic office to run.

-- Ron

Putting Kelly on the ticket does not guarantee winning Arizona because it still has red state tendencies. The Democrats need to worry about Pennsylvania and the mid-west. Shapiro as VP should lock up Pennsylvania. Plus, Kamala has known Shapiro for 20 years.