John Howard yesterday said “sorry” for the tenth interest-rate rise in a row:

In a rare statement of contrition, Mr Howard said: “I would say to the borrowers of Australia who are affected by this change that I am sorry about that and I regret the additional burden that will be put upon them as a result.”

John Howard today said that being “sorry” doesn’t necessarily mean an apology:

Howard today denied apologising for the latest interest rate rise, saying that uttering the word sorry did not amount to the same thing. Mr Howard said yesterday he was sorry about the pain the rise would cause borrowers. But today he denied that amounted to an apology.

John Howard four weeks ago, on why he won’t say “sorry” to indigenous Australians for past misjustices:

“I think in the past we have become obsessed with things like apologies and there are millions of Australians who will never entertain an apology because they don’t believe that there is anything to apologise for.”

I can’t wait for Howard to start up his own blog in retirement, where he can work more on these semantic gymnastics.

I support John Howard’s promise overnight to acknowledge the special place that indigenous Australians hold in our united nation.

In completely unrelated news John Howard is expected to call the election within 48 hours, having had 11 perfectly good years in power to make this announcement.