I wouldn't either.

My friend & I call TRUMP the "Honey Badger" & we get to laughing so hard thinking of fake political TV ads for TRUMP narrated by this guy "Randall". I just thought it was cool that someone else had our odd sense of humor!

Thanks for posting!!

but I think he's absolutely in the right here.

I've heard many non apology apologies--if a politician thinks he or she is about to lose something unless something that sounds on the surface like an apology is made. I've also heard a lot of policiansplaining of why my own lying eyes and ears were wrong. I can't recall an authentic, humble apology, though.

Wait. I think I do remember one from about a year ago. To my shame, I don't remember any of the details. I remember only posting something like, "At least it was a real apology."

"Authentic" is in the eye of the beholder

Most people can agree that "I am sorry if anyone found my words/actions offensive," said after a national outcry, is a fake apology. Sure, if you want to get down to finer points, maybe subjectivity is involved. But that one is both quite common and quite inauthentic. At the other end of the sliding scale, most people would say that "I was wrong. I am ashamed. I am very sorry and will do all I can to make amends and avoid that mistake in the future" at least seems more authentic than pretending your only mistake was speaking to people who are way too touchy.

many will acknowledge the authenticity of an apology from a politician we do not like.

Real macho leaders, like Trump, Erdogan and Putin, issue no apologies even those with questionable "authenticity".

To me, an apology in that situation would be an insult because it's hollow.

with pipe dreams of being a Stalin in a new cold war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is just plain wrong here!

Lying about Crimea. Having his planes violate Turkish airspace. Even lying about the lack of any warnings.

Yielding to those who force their will upon you has the nasty consequence that they come to perceive this as a right, and anything that treats them as equals is consequently a humiliation. Russian deserves greatness; it doesn't have to accord smaller countries with any sort of respect. It has rights, not obligations. Esp. in its "sphere of influence". We take great umbrage with the Monroe Doctrine and "get it" when others react prickly to the US; we have great trouble understanding this when some country that helps humble the Great Satan gets accorded the same treatment for even worse past behavior.

but I'm not a leader who has to consider a whole shitload of things. But for me, it would be short and simple.