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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Insomnia. Again.

Insomnia. Again.

by John Cole|  August 16, 200512:23 am| 42 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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All I want is six hours sleep.

Oh- and as predicted, tonight on Hardball, the mother of a dead soldier protesting Cindy Sheehan’s protest. Who will find the first grandfather of a dead soldiers for/against the war to trot out? How about gay children of dead soldiers?

This whole thing is sickening.

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42Comments

  1. 1.

    bdg

    August 16, 2005 at 12:34 am

    before you break a blood vessel regarding the sanctity of Sheehan’s marriage being off-limits, it might behhove you to read the NYT or Time interviews with her in which she herself raises the marital and family situation and attempts to garner sympathy on those grounds as well.

    so perhaps you might want to save your spew for someone a tad more deserving

  2. 2.

    John Cole

    August 16, 2005 at 12:41 am

    I am assuming this was placed here by mistake, but the problem is not the fact that MIchelle reported the divorce papers, as the news of her being estranged from her husband are widely known. It was the gleeful invocation of this news as a means to discredit her.

    So she is divorced. BFD. She is still Casey Sheehan’s mother, and she has still said a shitload of stupid things that Michelle should be focussing on. My favorites are the lefty trope about PNAC, Halliburton, and ISrael out of Palestine.

    There is no need to lower ourselves and rant about her marriage or inconsistencies in statements about her marriage. Some things should be off limits.

  3. 3.

    Far North

    August 16, 2005 at 12:42 am

    I know what it is, John. You have guilt because everyone that said (back in 02 & 03) that the Iraq adventure would go badly was ridiculed, ignored and declared at traitor to his country. Now that they’ve been proven right….

    JUST KIDDING!

    My remedy is either hot chocolate, then if that doesn’t work, a shot or two of Absolut. Then if that fails, I hit the painkillers, a Vicodin or two…never fails.

    It’s only 2040 hrs where I live. Good night!!!

  4. 4.

    Steve

    August 16, 2005 at 12:46 am

    I didn’t see Hardball. Did the pro-war mother talk about the reasons why she supports the war, or was it more of an anti-Sheehan thing?

    I am one of those people who thinks that a grieving mother has every right to express her opinion publicly, whichever side of the issue she happens to be on, but I would rather not see it set up as a celebrity deathmatch kind of thing.

  5. 5.

    ppGaz

    August 16, 2005 at 1:04 am

    Did the pro-war mother talk about the reasons why she supports the war

    She was very softspoken and mostly talked of trusting the president. She sympathized with Sheehan but said that she is dealing with her anger in the wrong way.

  6. 6.

    Geek, Esq.

    August 16, 2005 at 1:19 am

    The Sheehan phenomenon, just like the Fahrenheit 911 phenomenon, are more symptoms than they are of independent forces.

    They are symptoms of a terribly warped political structure in this country right now. The Republicans are led by the Pollyanna Platoon, while the ‘serious’ Democrats believe in throwing more and more human beings into the meat grinder because they’re afraid the Republicans will call them a bunch of pussies.

    The debate over this war has been led by politicians and media figures who are paying ZERO cost for what’s going on in Iraq. Working class families sacrifice their sons and daughters, but the wealthy are outraged by suggestions that they pay taxes AFTER they’re dead.

    Cindy Sheehan was far from an ideal spokesperson against the war–as was Michael Moore. However, the fault lies not in them, but in the so-called leaders who abdicated on this issue.

  7. 7.

    anon

    August 16, 2005 at 1:36 am

    Red wine or a martini (or two). Masturbate. All else fails, try a 1/4 tab of Xanax.

    Why can’t you sleep? Probably your conscience paying you back for being unconsience way too much of the time.

    That said, I have been told the above things work.

    Also, sleep in a bed or a shelter, don’t expect too much sleep in the (moral) gutter you live in.

  8. 8.

    Nate

    August 16, 2005 at 1:40 am

    John,

    being a liberal and against the war, I *know*
    I’m ignorant. But why is

    ISrael out of Palestine

    a “lefty trope”? Aren’t the Israelis right now pulling out of Gaza, with the full agreement and support of Europe and America? You’ve mentioned this a few times, and I’m sure I’m missing the drastic import.

  9. 9.

    djc

    August 16, 2005 at 1:41 am

    Mr Cole.

    If I had creeps like “anon” who just dropped a major moonbat turd on your blog in the post above, I’d be pretty cranky too.

  10. 10.

    ppGaz

    August 16, 2005 at 1:47 am

    Can’t sleep?

    Infomercials.

    Surefire Sleep Inducer

    An hour or two of this stuff, and you may never wake up again.

    If an hour of Richard Karn doesn’t bring sleep, then consult a neurosurgeon or psychiatrist.

  11. 11.

    mac Buckets

    August 16, 2005 at 1:49 am

    Have you tried watching a Kerry speech from last campaign? That worked for most of America… Sheep count Kerry speeches to go to sleep.

  12. 12.

    chadwig

    August 16, 2005 at 2:00 am

    “Did the pro-war mother talk about the reasons why she supports the war?”

    “She was very softspoken and mostly talked of trusting the president. She sympathized with Sheehan but said that she is dealing with her anger in the wrong way.”

    In other words, she didn’t have anything to say except that she has total faith in a President who has mislead and little-dicked us in to a war of personal vengeance against a phantom enemy who now seems quite adept at killing our sons and daughters.

    She’s an idiot.

  13. 13.

    srv

    August 16, 2005 at 2:05 am

    Blogsomnia. Wish I had it, but after two weeks backcountry in Inyo and Yosemite, I’m too tired to catch up on all that work.

  14. 14.

    anon

    August 16, 2005 at 2:07 am

    Moonbat turd? But that was exactly what a Harvard M.D. told me to do! (He felt most prescription sleep-aids including Sonata were addictive.)

    Jebus you wing-nuts have no sense of teh funay.

  15. 15.

    Steve

    August 16, 2005 at 2:07 am

    Now see, that’s uncalled for. Someone who has lost her son in Iraq deserves better than to be called names just because she comes down on the other side of the issue from you. You are no different from the right-wing trolls who want to drag Cindy Sheehan through the mud.

  16. 16.

    bragova

    August 16, 2005 at 2:08 am

    My favorite cure for insomnia is watching Wagner operas. Just start at the beginning of the Ring.

  17. 17.

    djc

    August 16, 2005 at 2:45 am

    Anon,

    Jebus you wing-nuts have no sense of teh funay.

    Does that Harvard Prof (butt-fuck buddy?) spell check tour posts?

  18. 18.

    anon

    August 16, 2005 at 2:55 am

    Praise Jebus! j00 sure have a lot of aggression in j00! And somehow I am teh ghey? What a l4m3r j00 r! Most funay!

    “spell check tour posts?” Guffaw! djc is teh idjit \/\/ing-nut!!

  19. 19.

    anon

    August 16, 2005 at 2:57 am

    Ah, John, found a bug in your editing/commenting thingy. It takes backslashes and previews them as a backslash but treats them as an escape. So \/\/ previews as \/\/ but posts as //. Or something like that.

  20. 20.

    anon

    August 16, 2005 at 3:06 am

    Har! Har! Har! Har! Har! djc Head Asplodes!

    g’nite dic!

  21. 21.

    Boronx

    August 16, 2005 at 3:11 am

    It’s no more sickening than reading a bunch of nerds on the internet do the exact same thing.

  22. 22.

    Boronx

    August 16, 2005 at 3:42 am

    The only surefire cure for insomnia that I know is a couple hours of hard physical labor.

  23. 23.

    Boronx

    August 16, 2005 at 3:47 am

    My favorite cure for insomnia is watching Wagner operas. Just start at the beginning of the Ring.

    But if it’s effective, you’ll never know how it ends.

  24. 24.

    carot

    August 16, 2005 at 3:58 am

    If you want to get to sleep here is the answer:

    Go and buy melatonin tablets. They will put you to sleep because they are the same chemical your brain secretes to put you to sleep naturally. Since it is the same you can’t resist sleeping when you take it.

    If you have bad insomnia they might only last a few hours and you will have to take more, but they *always* work.

    http://www.melatonin.com/

  25. 25.

    tb

    August 16, 2005 at 5:12 am

    Do NOT listen to Wagner to try to exhaust yourself to sleep. When you finally start to nod off the brass and cymbals will explode out of the speakers and tear your fucking head off. We’ll have to pry you off the ceiling. Try Brian Eno’s Music For Airports instead.

  26. 26.

    Joe Albanese

    August 16, 2005 at 7:45 am

    John Cole:

    This whole thing is sickening.

    What is sickening? That we are having a national debate on Iraq? That people are talking about the war in way that maybe they hadn’t before? No John, what was sickening is that we didn’t have nearly the debate we should have leading up to the war. The media didn’t question the wildly false statements of the adminstration. Politicians, Democrat and Republican, were petrified into acquiescence of a popular president.

    No John, having a debate about the war is not sickening even if it involves dueling mothers. We have heard from pundit upon pundit, bloggers, talk show hosts, etc all spewing their opinions about the war in Iraq but you seem to have a problem with the very people that have a personal stake in this war from speaking out. Cindy Sheehan has much more right to speak her opinion, and yes even to try to change public opinion if that is her desire, than a dozen Sean Hannity’s do. Or even may I be so bold as to suggest, John Cole.

  27. 27.

    Caroline

    August 16, 2005 at 7:52 am

    She was very softspoken and mostly talked of trusting the president. She sympathized with Sheehan but said that she is dealing with her anger in the wrong way.”

    I didn’t watch the show but going by this comment it sounds we now have a “faith based” war i.e. conservatives can’t argue the facts, so now we are just down to arguing that we must believe everything Bush says because he’s Jesus?

    And conservatives wonder why support for the war is collapsing?

  28. 28.

    Jim Caputo

    August 16, 2005 at 9:09 am

    She was very softspoken and mostly talked of trusting the president. She sympathized with Sheehan but said that she is dealing with her anger in the wrong way.”

    As I’ve long said, there is some percentage of this country that would believe Bush was doing the right and truthful thing no matter what he did. For instance, if Bush were to go out in the streets and starting firing bullets into crowds of mothers and children, there are some people who would excuse him, even for that.

    I didn’t see this woman’s interview, but she can talk all she wants on as many shows as she wants. I don’t think what she says will resonate with the people who have decided Bush in NOT trustworthy. I can’t imagine anyone watching her thinking, “Hmm….I’ve recently come to the conclusion that Bush has been lying about this war all along, but if this mother of a dead soldier believes him, then maybe I should too.” No, I don’t see that happening.

  29. 29.

    raymond

    August 16, 2005 at 9:22 am

    Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo were just another sickening propaganda stunt too. Not that they have no right to express an opinion, but I don’t see why anyone should listen to them. The reasons for past procedures have all been stated over and over again, and it is time that we just move on. Now we have the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo too. Revolting. Where will it end?

  30. 30.

    Marcus Wellby

    August 16, 2005 at 9:24 am

    How long has Sheehan been out there? And the first time Matthews, he of the gigantic cranium, can discuss the story is with someone who disagrees with Sheehan? Couldnt he just take more time to brag about his Peace Corps days or broadcast another special on Faith in America — because, yes, we’d all be heathens without Saint Chris showing us the Way.

  31. 31.

    Dave Ruddell

    August 16, 2005 at 9:28 am

    As I’ve long said, there is some percentage of this country that would believe Bush was doing the right and truthful thing no matter what he did. For instance, if Bush were to go out in the streets and starting firing bullets into crowds of mothers and children, there are some people who would excuse him, even for that.

    But by the same token, there is some percentage that will believe Bush is wrong and a liar no matter what he did. For instance, if Bush were to spend five weeks volunteering at the leper colony in Kalaupapa (fine, Hansesn’s disease) there are some people who would accuse him of doing it only because the weather was nice there.

    Both sides represent background noise. The tricky part is to filter them out, especially the ones that you happen to agree with.

  32. 32.

    Bob

    August 16, 2005 at 9:30 am

    I like that! A “faith-based war.” It IS a crusade. We just don’t know what the crusade is for. Maybe the death cult will come up with a reason for this war that will stick.

    Here’s the problem for the administration: There’s nothing in the future roadmap to lift up the spirits back on the homefront. Even if civil war doesn’t break out in the wake of a new constitution, what’s to look forward to this fall?

    I’ll tell ya. We’re up around two dozen administration figures with dirty hands involving the Plame Affair. You know, lying about the war and attacking the wife of the messenger.

    Hell, if I was a Bush supporter, or a war supporter, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either.

  33. 33.

    Slartibartfast

    August 16, 2005 at 9:37 am

    John, didn’t you get a machine that was supposed to fix this problem?

  34. 34.

    BumperStickerist

    August 16, 2005 at 10:03 am

    There’ve been times when I’ve been too tired to sleep. Try to get 1/2 hour nap mid-afternoon or right after work – if you can’t sleep just lie back on a couch with a cool towel over your eyes, set an alarm, and ‘unwind’ for a bit – you’ll be a bit less tired which, ironically, will help you get to sleep.

    Or, hey, after reading the posts above – take a quarter tab of xanax with a 1/2 bottle of Nyquil, join the Democratic party online, post a long soul-baring missive apologizing to no one in particular for your support of the Chimp, don a hair shirt, and go to a shelter. You’ll sleep like a baby. A crack baby.

  35. 35.

    Steve

    August 16, 2005 at 10:32 am

    How long has Sheehan been out there? And the first time Matthews, he of the gigantic cranium, can discuss the story is with someone who disagrees with Sheehan? Couldnt he just take more time to brag about his Peace Corps days or broadcast another special on Faith in America—because, yes, we’d all be heathens without Saint Chris showing us the Way.

    I am pretty sure Cindy Sheehan was on Hardball already. This was the “equal time” moment.

    Frankly, I’d rather hear a lot more from people with a personal stake in the outcome (gosh, how about the Iraqis!) and less from the same old pundits debating the same old talking points.

  36. 36.

    capelza

    August 16, 2005 at 10:55 am

    If nothing else works John Cole, try Valerian (you can get it at health or herb store). It acts like Valium. Chewing up some calcium might help too, the calcium helps you sleep, hence the glass of warm milk before bedtime in the old days. Of course you could go to the doctor and ask him/her to give to knock you the hell out,

    Or you can take it and run with it, explore the genius revealed in sleep deprivation.

    Frankly, I’d rather hear a lot more from people with a personal stake in the outcome (gosh, how about the Iraqis!) and less from the same old pundits debating the same old talking points.

    I agree. There has been a lot of talk about sacrifice, maybe it’s time for the American “audience” to hear from those who really have. On both sides of the divide and even, heaven forbid, those stuck in the muddle.

  37. 37.

    JoeTx

    August 16, 2005 at 11:25 am

    “But by the same token, there is some percentage that will believe Bush is wrong and a liar no matter what he did.”

    Unfortunately, there is a body of evidence that shows a pattern of lying and deception by the Bush Administration. Trust and respect must be earned. Therefore, everything they do now is suspect.

    “Both sides represent background noise. The tricky part is to filter them out, especially the ones that you happen to agree with.”

    This I cannot dispute. My BS filter is activated anytime I hear this administration say, “I appreciate that question” or “we look forward to answering your question at the appropriate time” or “9/11 changed everything” or “let us not forget the lessons of 9/11” or “your either with us or your with the terrorists”, etc…..

  38. 38.

    Vlad

    August 16, 2005 at 11:34 am

    “The only surefire cure for insomnia that I know is a couple hours of hard physical labor.”

    I’d agree with this one. Go out walking for a couple hours, and just keep going until you can’t put one foot in front of the other any more. Then go home.

    I’m pretty pleased to see ordinary mothers getting involved in the process, regardless of whether they support the war or not. The worst thing for the country is apathy, not passionate debate.

  39. 39.

    Geek, Esq.

    August 16, 2005 at 12:05 pm

    Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo were just another sickening propaganda stunt too. Not that they have no right to express an opinion, but I don’t see why anyone should listen to them. The reasons for past procedures have all been stated over and over again, and it is time that we just move on. Now we have the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo too. Revolting. Where will it end?

    Please God tell me this was meant satirically.

  40. 40.

    Pb

    August 16, 2005 at 1:01 pm

    Geek, Esq.: considering their politics, I’d almost expect to hear it from the Right…

  41. 41.

    Rome Again

    August 16, 2005 at 6:43 pm

    John,

    Regarding your insomnia, I saw where you mentioned in a later thread that while you were trying to sleep you heard a promo on fox news for border patrol issues? How about you TURN OFF the television, turn off the lights, put on some white noise (like a fan) and try to sleep without any interruptions?

    I realize that you, as a blogger, need to keep up on top of breaking news, but nobody should expect you to be blogging during the late hours of the night. Drown out the interruptions of television and make your environment as sleep inducing as possible.

    Good luck!

  42. 42.

    Kathy Cole

    August 16, 2005 at 9:53 pm

    Again on the insomnia front — my husband’s had good luck with Ambien the few times he’s taken it. (If all else fails, better living through chemistry….)

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