Conventional wisdom holds that “show votes” like Wednesday’s – which will mark the 33rd attempt by the GOP to repeal all or part of Obama’s signature legislative achievement – put Democrats in a “tough” position of backing an unpopular law and threatening their reelection chances.

But in reality, only the dwindling handful of centrist members find themselves in a bind, while the rest of their colleagues gleefully sharpen their partisan knives, eager for another chance to demonstrate their differences for a voting public only now beginning to tune into this year’s election. …

But don’t let Democrats’ complaints about the health care vote fool you. For much President Obama’s party, occupying safely Democratic seats, these sorts of exercises carry much of the same as much political weight as for Republicans.