Our very own U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, — may as well identify him that way even though he doesn’t officially represent Greater Rome instead of U.S. Rep Phil Gingrey until January — lost a bid for chairman of the House Republican Study Committee that he had been expected to win. That came right after U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Roswell lost his bid to become head of the GOP Conference Committee, the No. 4 leadership slot. He’d been the pre-election favorite as well.
Both Graves and Price are among fiercest of the new breed of Republican conservatives, although not the worst for having tongues that run away from them. However, they are among the lightning rods of the thundering Tea Party brigade that saw a number of incumbents and candidates defeated in the election. The core of Tea Party goals will certainly not be modified but it is pretty clear that Republicans as a whole want this aspect to be toned down and turned into background noise … at least until after the dust settles.
It’s just life as usual in the political zoo where leopards don’t change their spots, although they may alter the way they stalk their prey when new obstacles are placed in their way.







