Let’s take a look at history.
1985 – Ronald Reagan, who (let’s remember this) governed his entire eight years with Congressional minorities, had to finally cut a deal with the Dems. The deal with Tip O’Neill involved two dollars in spending cuts for every dollar in tax hikes. It led to the “Reagan Tax Hikes” that liberals blather about (they were much, much smaller than his tax cuts, and occurred after the economy had recovered, which isn’t nearly as stupid as raising taxes during a recession). Naturally, O’Neill reneged on the deal; we got the tax hikes and the spending, putting a black mark on Reagan’s legacy and giving a generation of giggly lefty chanting-point-bots a cheap tu quoque tittering point.
1990 - George H.W. Bush cuts a deal with Congressional Democrats, who are still in the majority – just one more round of taxes, in exchange for spending cuts, leading to his famous declaration, “Read my lips! No new taxes!”. The Dems welched, naturally, leaving Bush looking like the fool that, for believing the Democrats, he truly was.
2012 – Some House Republicans are making noises that sound suspiciously similar to “we’ll be happy to agree to tax hikes today, in exchange for spending cuts someday when you get around to it”. In other words, they are planning to extend electoral credit to a party that has “our ends justify our means” as an unwritten platform plank.
Dear House Republicans: you thought the 2010 primary season was brutal for RINOs? Remember Trent Lott, and don’t be stupid. Compromising with Democrats before you’ve gotten your pound of flesh is the mark of the sucker. The moron. The soon-to-be unemployed politician, God and your smarter voters willing.