if people don't have health care, thats their own fault. Health care is a need, not a right.

While health care may not be a "right," it is integral to ensuring at least a modicum of quality for one's life. It is similar to education. Education is not a "right," but it is integral to improving one's quality of life. Also, and this is similar to health care, it benefits others when one consumes it.

And the worst part of it is that some of those that voted for it were paid off with special programs for their state.

If the debate was enough, then how did we end up with this abomination of a bill? The Republicans tried to negotiate by offering alternate plans. The administration did not want them.

I have no illusions that senators were probably bribed on both sides, that isn't the issue at hand

The party lines being that clearly divided in this vote means that senators feel all right just toting the party line instead of voting according to their consciences. That's not good enough.

Isn't that the case in mostly every bill brought forth?

This is an old grudge of mine

Completely off-topic: You reply very quickly.

The Republicans made no genuine effort to negotiate with the Senate Democrats. I am surprised you would defend the Republicans. I always pegged you as a nonpartisan-I still do, although this makes your defense of the GOP more baffling. Regardless, the GOP was a laughingstock throughout the process. Their alternative plans were poorly constructed and embarrassing. The only worthwhile provision the GOP proposed which the Democrats had not already adopted was malpractice reform. Yes, I am vexed that the Democrats have not addressed it. Had there been a few Republicans willing to support the bill in exchange for that provision being included, I think the Democrats would have capitulated. Unfortunately, that did not transpire.

Also, if you do not want an "abomination" of a bill, then more debate will not accomplish that. The only thing more debate accomplishes, and this pertains to any bill, is more disparate provisions patched together attempting to satisfy every interest group. The negotiations and debate on healthcare began in April. I think ~8-1/2 months suffice.

That's the mess of politics, when one side or the other (or both) are determined to not really do anything but try and spite the other side, you have to fight like hell for all but the most basic stuff, and it still ends up coming out lopsided

which means that yes, the Republicans are largely to blame for this, as are the Blue Dog democrats (who are going to get broiled in the upcoming primary elections for this, i think). But it isn't a quality endemic to Republicans or lacking in Democrats, that's just the nature of a disgruntled opposition party in general, and it's a decent tactic politically. Do the most you can to upset the other side's efforts, and then claim that the other side has been failing to act