"And I hope it‘s as soon as<$NoAd$> possible. But I know putting artificial deadlines won‘t work. My opponent at one time said, 'Well, get me elected, I‘ll have them out of there in six months.' You can‘t do that and expect to win the war on terror."

That was another throw away line from President Bush in tonight's debate.

Needless to say (and as Sen. Kerry later made clear), Kerry's never said any such thing.

As best I can tell, what President Bush was referring to was this passage from Sen. Kerry's recent speech on Iraq ...

If the President would move in this direction … if he would bring in more help from other countries to provide resources and forces … train the Iraqis to provide their own security …develop a reconstruction plan that brings real benefits to the Iraqi people … and take the steps necessary to hold credible elections next year … we could begin to withdraw U.S. forces starting next summer and realistically aim to bring all our troops home within the next four years.

A bit different, no?

In addition to being unaccustomed to being criticized, President Bush also seemed unused to having people call him on it when he makes up 'quotes' they never said.