Rep. Ed Ableser of Tempe missed 39% of the roll call votes in the camp House this last session. That’s pretty remarkable since the second least engaged member of the entire Legislature missed just 21%.

 

So, was there a problem? Health issues, family, business? Nah, he just didn’t feel like it since “the Tea Party has taken over the state and made it a complete mockery”, he told the Arizona Capitol Times.  Gee, they have? The last I heard the tea party was just a flash in the pan whose time had passed. Now they’re back busily ruining the state. Who knew?

 

But  Ableser’s bizarre rant didn’t  stop there. “I’m a mental health counselor and any mental health counselor knows you don’t engage with crazy”, he went on. Well, I don’t know much about mental health counselors, having firmly rejected all notions I should contact one. But I do know that engaging with those who agree with you and those who don’t is precisely what legislators are elected to do.

 

I’m sorry his fellow legislators don’t fit Mr. Ableser’s standard for people he wishes to associate with. But, really, if he really thought such terrifyingly bad stuff was coming down, withdrawing from the debate would be the last, most irresponsible thing he could do.

 

His far left fans probably get off on how he frames his immaturity and laziness as an attack on the majority. Meanwhile “they’re nuts ” is the counselor’s considered contribution to civility in the Legislature.

 

Tempe voters deserve better.