Comment 1 for bug 1165281

In bug #999013, someone said they fixed a similar problem by running `sudo apt-get dist-upgrade` at the prompt.

I tried. It didn't work. I got this:

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... snip ....

Unpacking libaudit1:amd64 (from .../libaudit1_1%3a2.2.2-1ubuntu4_amd64.deb) ...
Setting up libaudit1:amd64 (1:2.2.2-1ubuntu4) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
(Reading database ... 564346 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace debconf 1.5.46ubuntu1 (using .../debconf_1.5.49ubuntu1_all.deb) ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 563, in <module>
    main()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 545, in main
    known_paths = addusersitepackages(known_paths)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 272, in addusersitepackages
    user_site = getusersitepackages()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 247, in getusersitepackages
    user_base = getuserbase() # this will also set USER_BASE
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 237, in getuserbase
    USER_BASE = get_config_var('userbase')
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 578, in get_config_var
    return get_config_vars().get(name)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 505, in get_config_vars
    import re
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/re.py", line 105, in <module>
    import sre_compile
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.py", line 14, in <module>
    import sre_parse
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.py", line 17, in <module>
    from sre_constants import *
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.py", line 18, in <module>
    from _sre import MAXREPEAT
ImportError: cannot import name MAXREPEAT
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 563, in <module>
    main()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 545, in main
    known_paths = addusersitepackages(known_paths)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 272, in addusersitepackages
    user_site = getusersitepackages()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 247, in getusersitepackages
    user_base = getuserbase() # this will also set USER_BASE
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 237, in getuserbase
    USER_BASE = get_config_var('userbase')
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 578, in get_config_var
    return get_config_vars().get(name)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 505, in get_config_vars
    import re
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/re.py", line 105, in <module>
    import sre_compile
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.py", line 14, in <module>
    import sre_parse
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.py", line 17, in <module>
    from sre_constants import *
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.py", line 18, in <module>
    from _sre import MAXREPEAT
ImportError: cannot import name MAXREPEAT
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/debconf_1.5.49ubuntu1_all.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
                                                              Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 563, in <module>
    main()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 545, in main
    known_paths = addusersitepackages(known_paths)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 272, in addusersitepackages
    user_site = getusersitepackages()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 247, in getusersitepackages
    user_base = getuserbase() # this will also set USER_BASE
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 237, in getuserbase
    USER_BASE = get_config_var('userbase')
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 578, in get_config_var
    return get_config_vars().get(name)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 505, in get_config_vars
    import re
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/re.py", line 105, in <module>
    import sre_compile
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.py", line 14, in <module>
    import sre_parse
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.py", line 17, in <module>
    from sre_constants import *
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.py", line 18, in <module>
    from _sre import MAXREPEAT
ImportError: cannot import name MAXREPEAT
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/debconf_1.5.49ubuntu1_all.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

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