First time over here- maybe you experts over here can answer this

Why the fuck does a congressman have to present to vote? After watching the news over the weekend, The 'pubs had to delay the health care vote because McCain had some surgery and can't get to Washington. Why does he have to physically be there? We have absentee ballots for our elections and we don't have to worry that the Russians hacking into McCains's vote because it's on the public record.

I'm assuming McCain is for the bill, or more correctly said, is for opening the debate on the bill, and his vote is needed to pass the bill, or McConnel would just go on with it if he had the votes already. Regardless, why is it needed that anyone be in one room to vote on something that is a matter of public record?

With all the advantages of modern tech, why the fuck are we stuck these arcane rules involving how a politician votes in congress. I'd hate to think that in the future some major legislation is held up because there was some flu outbreak causing a number of congressman from voting on a particulate day. Seems ridiculous to me.

Because otherwise they'd never actually be there. Which doesn't sound so bad until you realize that they'd spend all of their time in their districts campaigning. 100% campaign 100% of the time. They'd never actually consider issues, which technically is a thing they should do, they'd just campaign. Also, that's just one bill. There are hundreds of votes a year that they are supposed to consider what's best for their districts instead of just doing what their party tells them. Never having them in Washington would be a good way to have a congress full of sackless cowards like Marco Rubio.

Never consider a run for Federal legislative office.

McCain is needed for the Senate vote since without him the GOP tie breaker vote from VP Pence won't save the bill.

His presence is required because the same technology could be used to make it appear McCain or any other legislator was mentally capable of makng decisions when they weren't. Might not even be alive but they looked alive.