That's because politics is a deadly serious thing in the USA, but what you actually have is cold civil war. Politics requires goodwill on both sides, that's not possible with the republicans as currently constituted. There was a time in the 90's when there wasn't much difference between the parties, but that has long since changed. The majority of the white American population are bigots and close to 7 in 10 white males have a chip on their shoulder about it and many have gone tribal. The parties are polarized now between patriots who want a liberal democracy that includes all people and the other side wants fascist rule by a minority that will descend into genocide eventually, it usually does. Minorities are strong in the democratic party now and racists make up the base of the republicans, the days of compromise by throwing minorities under the bus are over.