sometimes, apologies are just stupid, or are actually wrong. i don't think that mark sanford regretted his decisions, you know, the day before yesterday, when he was in the process of screwing miss argentina again. but he regretted them three seconds after getting caught. he let down his wife, his children, his state, etc...by getting caught. you could apologize before getting caught: that would carry with it a presumption of sincerity. or you could get caught, and then engage in a long deep process of reflection, transformation, and exploratory regret. but don't fly home from your date and apologize: that's horseshit.

now it seems obvious that a lot of guys who can't play the guitar go into politics to get laid. that is, you know, morally unfortunate. really you might blame the women who make this strategy successful, but of course blaming women for anything would be wrong. but engaging in the noble self-sacrificing career of public service in order to get laid is not nearly as morally unfortunate as are these apologies, for which these public servants ought to be pistol-whipped by rabid munchkins.