What's irking Sarah Palin?

According to Jim Carlton's story in today's Wall Street Journal, Palin mentioned in her bombshell resignation announcement last Friday that she'd been rankled by the nonstop attacks "... by bloggers and activists" and "... accused them of offering up 'silly accusations' and even mocking her infant son, Trig, who has Down syndrome."

Her exact words from a transcript: "I think much of it has to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently."

Continued Carlton in his WSJ article, "Several days ago, a photo [top] appeared on a blog showing Gov. Palin holding a baby with the superimposed head of a conservative talk-show host. The governor's spokeswoman said the blogger, Linda Kellen Biegel, 'should be ashamed of herself.' Ms. Biegel said the photo was intended as a parody of the talk-show host and in no way meant to disparage Trig, which 'never even crossed my mind.'"

The Photoshop creation above by a blogger named Dr. Chill showing the head of Eddie Burke first appeared on Biegel's blog, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis.

It then became a political hot piñata after it was reposted on the Conservatives4Palin blog on June 24, 2009.

Adding fuel to the fire is this Photoshop creation,

a Palin+Burke mashup which appeared on Biegel's blog last Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

I must say that I don't understand why anyone would desire to hold office and have power over anyone else.

To me, that's the last thing anyone in a position of power should be seeking.

As in the case of Cincinnatus, called to rule Rome as dictator in 458 B.C. when all he wanted to do was work on his farm, power should be conferred only on those who would prefer not having it.

Those are the only people I trust.

And for those of you troubled by the fact that this post focused on conservative Republicans without a mention of those across the aisle — this one's

for you.