Can it be that congressional Republicans, having had their heads handed to them in this year’s election, are wising up to the foolishness of pledging blind fealty to a zealous lobbyist?

Grover Norquist, who demanded – and received – pledges from Republican presidential candidates that they reject tax increases at all costs is now finding out such loyalty has its limits. Members of Congress are reneging on their pledge as they struggle to avoid plunging the nation over the so-called “fiscal cliff” at the end of the year.

My favorite GOP defection came from Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who said he placed the good of the country over any tax pledge. Chambliss understands, apparently, that mindless loyalty means nothing when the consequences to the nation are at risk.

Norquist is the noted anti-tax advocate who thinks the government spends too much and places too heavy a tax burden on Americans. It’s difficult to argue with the spending and taxing stance. But when he forces leading Republicans to make pledges to himself – and threatening retribution if they don’t – then he’s placing his own self-interest above the public’s interest. Chambliss and others seem to realize that they’ll need some additional tax revenue in addition to spending cuts to reduce the budget deficit and whittle down the mountain of debt.

And I’m absolutely certain that the only people who work for Norquist are his senators in his state and the House member who serves in the congressional district where he lives.

This dynamic reminds me a bit of a situation that occurred in West Texas about 15 years ago. Rep. Larry Combest, a Lubbock Republican, was aced out of a coveted House Agriculture Committee chairmanship by then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. Why? Combest didn’t go along with farm legislation that he believed ran counter to the cotton farmers and ranchers who were a major part of Combest’s West Texas constituency. Freedom to Farm would have curtailed price supports that Combest said would have harmed the farmers and ranchers in his district. Gingrich demanded loyalty from his troops, sort of the way Norquist is doing now – and Combest dug in his heels, saying he worked for the people of West Texas, and not for Newtie.

I was quite proud of the guts Combest displayed back then.

Now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected and Democrats have gained a tad stronger footing in both houses of Congress, it appears that some Republicans are learning the lessons offered by one of their congressional forebears, Larry Combest.