Okay, in what world would today seem like a good idea to hold a Coast Guard training exercise where uninformed observers might just get the wrong impression? Seriously, guys, that was a bad idea.

The Coast Guard refused to apologize Friday for a training exercise it conducted on the Potomac River that sparked panic and confusion soon after President Obama crossed a nearby bridge on his way to the Pentagon to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Coast Guard Chief of Staff Vice Adm. John Currier told reporters that the was holding a normal training exercise, as it does every day, and an operational commander at the scene didn’t see a reason to cancel just because it’s an emotional day for many Americans.

And in what world would it seem like a good idea to run a story about that exercise without first checking to make sure that it wasn’t just an exercise, knowing full well just how that kind of story would play on 9/11? Seriously, guys, that’s the kind of stuff that bloggers are supposed to do, not members of our sober, responsible mainstream media.

And why in God’s name would the White House press secretary want to continue to be such a jerk when dealing with the issue? While I think CNN had a little hysterical (not the funny hysterical, the screaming and running in terror hysterical) lapse, I can’t imagine how that kind of a training exercise wouldn’t attract a little attention. Especially on 9/11. Seriously, Mr. Gibbs, you need to grow some people skills.

Responding directly to a CNN reporter’s question about whether the public should have been notified about a training exercise, Gibbs was harshly sarcastic: “If anybody was unnecessarily alarmed based on erroneous reporting that denoted that shots had been fired, I think everybody is apologetic about that.”

When another journalist noted that the Coast Guard was holding a news conference to take questions on the morning’s events, Gibbs jabbed: “Hopefully CNN will go.”

None of which changes the fact that I hate truthers. God, I hate truthers.