Wow, I hate Bush.

John Kerry, from last night's debate:

No president, through all of American history, has ever ceded, and nor would I, the right to preempt in any way necessary to protect the United States of America. But if and when you do it, Jim, you have to do it in a way that passes the test, that passes the global test where your countrymen, your people understand fully why you're doing what you're doing and you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons.

To which President Bush replies:

I'm not exactly sure what you mean, "passes the global test," you take preemptive action if you pass a global test. My attitude is you take preemptive action in order to protect the American people, that you act in order to make this country secure.

OK. So, heat of the moment. Maybe he misunderstood the man...

Today, on the campaign trail:

One other point I want to make about the debate last night. Senator Kerry last night said that America has to pass some sort of global test --

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: -- before we can use American troops to defend ourselves. He wants our national security decisions subject to the approval of a foreign government.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: Listen, I'll continue to work with our allies and the international community -- but I will never submit America's national security to an international test

I suppose it's too demanding to ask that our President agree with his opponent that American citizens should fully understand a President's policy before he goes to war. But does he have to mock the very suggestion of democracy like this?

Yes, Kerry said you must pass "some sort of test." The test is that the American people understand the full reasons for a war before you ask them to endorse it.