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[personal profile] sobrique
"re·gret ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-grt)
v. re·gret·ted, re·gret·ting, re·grets
v. tr.
To feel sorry, disappointed, or distressed about.
To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn.

v. intr.
To feel regret.

n.
A sense of loss and longing for someone or something gone.
A feeling of disappointment or distress about something that one wishes could be different.
regrets A courteous expression of regret, especially at having to decline an invitation. "


What is it with the over use of the word "Regret" in the current political environment?

If I hear one more overstuffed political hack expressing "regret" about something I'm going to drive to westminster and stuff their tie down their neck. Go on, Google Politics, Regret

If they say their 'regret' something, that's _far_ more consistent with 'well I was fiddling my expenses, but I got busted, so I regret it' than it is with making an apology for being a stinking weasel.

Of course, no politician can _ever_ do anything wrong, or make a mistake, or accept responsibility and therefore apologising would be entirely inappropriate.

Grr.

Let's try a quote:

"DAVID Blunkett has expressed "deep regret" at the "appalling failure" in security at Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle."

Yes, I'm sure he did. I could express regret that someone got run over by a car.
However, if I was the one doing the RUNNING OVER then even if they were a turkey and jumped in front of me, 'expressing regret' doesn't really cut it.

Or we have IRA:

"Twelve people perished in the inferno, all Protestants. The warning came only nine minutes before the explosion - it appears that the bomb exploded prematurely. Two days later, the IRA admitted responsibility and regret. The warning, it said, 'proved totally inadequate given the disastrous consequences. We accept condemnation and criticism from only two sources: from the relatives and friends of those who were accidentally killed, and from our supporters who have rightly and severely criticised us."

'responsibility and regret' again? ARGH!. Yes, I'm sure you 'regret' getting caught out, but if you're not going to apologise, spare us the doublespeak.

How about:
"A government minister has expressed regret over any hurt caused by Tony Blair's claim that two British soldiers were executed."

Expressed regret again? So, no apologising, just, ya'know. "well, that kind of blew up into a media frenzy, so I regret lighting the blue touch paper"

This word annoys me now.

My country is run by weasels.
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