Bipartisanship

In general, bipartisanship is the art of inviting the opposition party into discussion regarding major legislation, if it should prove to be politically expedient to do so. It may also include listening to the opposition and even in rare cases adopting their suggestions. More specifically, bipartisanship refers to the natural tendency of both parties to trade special favors in order to keep their special constituents happy.

The spirit of bipartisanship is most in evidence when a member of the opposition party is persuaded to sell his or her soul. This is figurative, of course, since there is no such thing as a real soul or, for that matter, an actual spirit. [And, even if there were, that soul probably already belongs to major donors, if not (ultimately) to Satan or his agent, Mephistopheles.]

For the sake of a quid pro quo, by contrast, compromise on the part of any member of the party is treason to the cause pure and simple.