I must have missed the part about Republicans taking hostages . . .
This is exactly what America was created to be. There's more than one party out there. More than two. More than three, et al. At the moment, we have two major front runners. If one party is stupid enough, it will be replaced. It may continue to find adequate support for a while, but, if the erred party does not change its ways, there will come along a new front runner.
...And, yes, it is the American way.