The Republicans made the political decision to try and defeat the bill; it may work out well for them, but they have shown no interest in providing any input as requested repeatedly by the Dem leadership. As for the number of votes; for some reason the Dems (in the Senate) are terrified of having to make the Republicans filibuster. Not sure why, but there it is.
As he drank deeply of the Kool-aid.
The Republicans presented numerous alternatives to the democratic plans and they were all dismissed without a single hearing or debate.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/52896
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/05/nation/na-health-gop5
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124277551107536875.html
Whether this President gets reelected or not is long way off and I'll make no prognostications but I will certainly provide support to whomever runs against him.