Compromise. A ten-letter word?

My friend Bob says Senate Democrats displayed "cowardice" in negotiating with the Republicans to break the filibuster logjam. Gee, Bob, isn't our legislative branch supposed to get together to agree on stuff, and do things? I know the Republican right hasn't shown a lot of, uh, flexibility. Up to now. Both sides have been pretty difficult. But we're going to have to agree on some things, with the confidence that our world isn't going to come to an end. We've got non-American enemies to deal with.