Delay Non-apologizes

Amusing. After catching hell for his comments on the Judiciary we have this from Delay:

"I said something in an inartful way. I am sorry I said it that way," DeLay said.
He said he favors an independent judiciary but made it plain that he does not intend to give up congressional efforts to rein in "activist" judges.

"We've got jurisdiction over the courts. We set up the courts, and we can unset the courts," DeLay said. "We have the power of the purse."

Cleary not apologizing for the content of what he said - yet USA Today characterizes it thusly:

"DeLay apologizes for rhetoric in Schiavo case"
Which USA Today characterizes it this way:
DeLay did express regret (emphasis mine- afarensis) for saying, after the death of Schiavo, that the judges who refused to reinsert the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube would one day "answer for their behavior."

I don't know about you, but I think an apology would have been more like: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" Not " I'm sorry for the way I said it, but I still mean it"

And then, buying into Republican talking points:

"This is purely the Democrats' effort to distract because they don't have a message. They don't have an agenda," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said.

Yet:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, hoping to hold support among fellow Republicans, urged GOP senators Tuesday to blame Democrats if asked about his ethics controversy and accused the news media of twisting supportive comments so they sounded like criticism. "Officials said DeLay recommended that senators respond to questions by saying Democrats have no agenda other than partisanship, and are attacking him to prevent Republicans from accomplishing their legislative program (emaphasis mine - afarensis). One Republican said the Texan referred to a "mammoth operation" funded by Democratic supporters and designed to destroy him as a symbol of the Republican majority."

And:

"His private remarks to Senate Republicans were in keeping with the response frequently offered on his behalf by House Republicans: Blame the Democrats and occasionally the news media for the scrutiny he faces. House Republicans intend to follow the script later in the week, hoping to showcase passage of bankruptcy legislation and estate tax repeal as a counterpoint to Democratic charges that they are merely power-hungry."

Good Lord, don't get me started on the Bankruptcy Bill and the Estate Tax Repeal (Robin Hood in reverse - rob from the poor and give to the rich). It would be nice if the press would actually do their jobs instead of pandering to the Republicans. If they did more people might watch the news and read the newspaper!