🎙️ Vince Leach's Legislative Love Letter: Bills and Bureaucracy

State Senator Vince Leach joins the show with a staggering number of new bills, including the unexpected proposal to make "Howdy" the state greeting.

Three Sonorans

Feb 17, 2025

🙊 Notable quotes from the show

On Legislative Bills

Vince Leach: "We have 944 bills introduced in the House and 733 introduced in the Senate for your reading pleasure and enjoyment."
Leach (on a state greeting bill): "There was one dropped yesterday to make the state greeting... 'Howdy'."

On Government Spending

Shaun McClusky: "Why are we paying $8 million for condoms in Gaza?"
DeSimone (on a 14-year-old's death): "A 14-year-old Latina suffers under the open border policies set up by Biden and Kamala."

On Local Issues

Malta Joe (on pastries): "This is the first Valentine's Day Fagoli, I believe. Because Fagoli on Malta is an Easter treat."

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

🔊 Imagine a radio show on Valentine's Day where people talk about politics instead of love. One guest, Vince Leach, discussed a lot of new rules, even suggesting a funny idea to say "Howdy" as an official state greeting 🤠. Another guest, Shaun McClusky, talked about buying houses 🏠, which seemed a bit confusing, like playing a tricky game 🎲. Then, Malta Joe brought yummy pastries 🥐 that made everyone smile 😊, but serious topics like how we treat people coming from other countries 🌍 reminded us of the many challenges people face today.

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🗝️ Takeaways

📜 Legislative Overload: Over 1,600 bills have been introduced, but few are likely to make meaningful changes.
💬 Howdy!? A surprising proposal to make "Howdy" the state greeting amid pressing state issues.
🏘️ Housing Market Hype: McClusky's insights on rising housing costs and potential market risks.
💸 Spending Scrutiny: Controversial opinions on U.S. international aid and its perceived misuse.
🥟 Cultural Comfort: Malta Joe highlights the importance of food in preserving culture and community.
🌐 Complex Conversations: The show's coverage of border issues reveals deep systemic challenges.

Wake Up Tucson: A Valentine's Day Political Love Fest on the Airwaves

On February 14th, 2025, Love the Dream Media Network served up a steaming hot plate of political commentary that was anything but a romantic serenade. The morning show, hosted by Christopher DeSimone, transformed Valentine's Day into a political rodeo where love took a backseat to legislative loquaciousness and conservative commentary.

This is going to be a wild ride, I thought to myself, settling in with my morning coffee and a healthy dose of journalistic skepticism.

🏛️ Vince Leach: The Legislative Love Letter from Hell

State Senator Vince Leach dropped by the studio, bringing with him a legislative love letter that was more bureaucratic nightmare than heartfelt prose. The numbers alone were enough to make any civic-minded citizen's head spin:

"We have 944 bills introduced in the house and 733 introduced in the Senate for your reading pleasure and enjoyment."

Reading pleasure? More like reading torture, I muttered.

The conversation quickly devolved into a numbers game that would make even an accountant's heart sink. But buried within the legislative avalanche was a gem of absolute absurdity:

"There was one dropped yesterday to make the state greeting... 'Howdy'."

Howdy? HOWDY?

Internal monologue: In a state facing critical issues like water scarcity, education funding, and economic inequality, these lawmakers are spending time on state greetings? This is what taxpayer money funds?

The hosts didn't miss a beat in mocking the proposal, with DeSimone quipping about the irrelevance of such a bill. But beneath the mockery lies a deeper truth: this is a perfect metaphor for legislative distraction. While critical issues impact real people's lives, lawmakers play linguistic bingo with state greetings.

The Bill Bill-lion

Let's break down the legislative madness:

Total Bills Introduced: 1,677
Likelihood of Meaningful Legislation: Approximately zero
Chance of "Howdy" Becoming State Greeting: Sadly, non-zero

Narrator's note: Only between 300-350 bills typically make it to the governor's desk. Democracy in action? More like democracy in inaction.

💰 Shaun McClusky: Real Estate and Political Ramblings of a Capitalist Cupid

Local real estate maven Shaun McClusky brought his trademark blend of economic insight and political commentary that was less "Hallmark romance" and more "hostile takeover."

The housing market discussion revealed the brutal machinery of capitalism:

"Rentals are flying off the shelf... Home builders are offering 4.25 permanent 30-year fixed rates. That sells houses."

Internal critique: Ah yes, because nothing says "love" like predatory lending and housing market manipulation.

McClusky painted a picture of economic hope that felt more like economic gaslighting. A young couple can buy a $385,000 house because their rent is $2,100? Sure, if by "hope" we mean crushing generational debt and a housing market that resembles a game of financial musical chairs.

The most revealing moment came during their government spending critique. From USAID expenditures to international programs, their commentary was a masterclass in reductive thinking:

"Why are we paying $8 million for condoms in Gaza?" McClusky quipped.

Deep breath. Unpacking that statement would require more emotional labor than this Valentine's Day could handle.

Spending Shenanigans Breakdown

Note to conservatives: International aid isn't a dirty word. It's called human solidarity.

🥟 Malta Joe: A Culinary Respite from Political Pandemonium

Just when the political testosterone threatened to overload the studio, Malta Joe Gouchy rolled in with pastries and pure joy. His segment was a beautiful reminder that behind political rhetoric, there are human stories of migration, culture, and delicious food.

Joe's passion for Maltese pastizzi wasn't just about food – it was about cultural preservation, immigrant entrepreneurship, and community building. When he described creating heart-shaped almond cakes for Valentine's Day, I felt a genuine moment of connection.

"This is the first Valentine's Day Fagoli, I believe. Because Fagoli on Malta is an Easter treat."

Cultural translation: Food is love. Food is history. Food is resistance.

🌍 Systemic Shadows: The Undercurrents of Oppression

The show's discussion of border issues, immigration, and local infrastructure exposed the systemic racism often masked as "policy discussion." Their commentary on fentanyl and border crossings reduced complex human experiences to soundbites.

Internal monologue: These aren't statistics. These are human lives, families, people seeking safety and opportunity.

A particularly gut-wrenching moment came when discussing a 14-year-old Latina who died of fentanyl toxicity. Instead of addressing systemic issues, the hosts used her tragedy as a political cudgel:

"A 14-year-old Latina suffers under the open border policies set up by Biden and Kamala."

Grief is not a political weapon. Her life matters beyond your xenophobic agenda.

🤔 Reflection: Beyond the Airwaves

Wake Up Tucson is more than a radio show. It's a mirror reflecting the complex, often painful conversations happening in our community.

We want to hear from YOU!

How do local media narratives shape our understanding of complex issues?
When does political commentary cross the line from discussion to dehumanization?
What stories are being left untold?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. Remember: Dialogue is democracy's heartbeat.