What are they so scared of?
Nothing. This is how Dems fight. They fight for every inch of the political battlefield 24/7/365. I can understand how some Republicans might not see that given the flaccid nature of the GOPe.
I've begun labeling intractable daily problems that arise - mechanical or physical annoyances that don't surrender with a little application of knowledge and effort - "fight like a Democrat".
I do this instead of getting mad about the vexations.