-——Politics is war..-——
Yes, you are correct. In America, civil war. That is, the battles are fought in a civil manner.
That is perhaps the problem. Case in point Lamar Alexander. He prefers being civil to being a warrior. Rather than take to the Senate floor, use his power and ability to vigorously denounce the tyrants that are Dingy Harry and the president, he makes gentlemanly statements. Rather than create figurative blood and brain matter in the floor, he is gentlemanly.