“Um...OK what’s the non-conspiratorial explanation for offering apologies?”
Not to defend Huckabee but have you ever encountered somebody to whom something bad happened and you say I am sorry that happened to you even though you had absolutely nothing to do with? I have plenty of times.
"I'm sorry" can be an expression of regret, apology, or sympathy. It works perfectly well as you describe.
On the other hand, have you ever said, or would you ever say, "I apologize" in the same situation?
Exactly, how many times have you had a co-worker or acquatance state that he or she lost a family member and your initial reaction is to say, "I'm sotty for your loss".
But what the hey the anti-Huckabee people(Rush, Queen Ann Coulter, etc) are so desperate against Huckabee, they will latch on to anything.
"Regrets" are not "apologies". Neither are "sympathies" or "condolences".
If this guy doesent know how to say what he means in a situation like this, he ought to go back to Mayberry , RFD and shut up.