David Prosser

Republican male lawmakers reacting to the ethics charges against State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, as quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Some Republicans questioned why the commission filed a complaint against Prosser but not Bradley.

"It seems this organization is on a partisan mission as opposed to a fact-finding one," Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said of the Judicial Commission.

Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) also questioned the group's motives and said he feared it was trying to discredit a member of the court's conservative majority.

"I'm kind of shocked they're filing a complaint against Prosser but not Justice Bradley," he said.

Reflexing his muscleBack in the '70s, the old National Lampoon satirical magazine had a brief radio series and put out a LP record of the best shows. One was entitled "The Missing White House Tapes" and made fun of the Watergate scandal. Here -- updated for current Wisconsin events -- is a rewrite of one of the funniest skits (see link below to info on the original). 

[FADE IN: Police sirens wail over crowd noise and a reporter is heard talking into his mike:]

TV REPORTER: Here at the State Capitol in Madison, an altercation today in the chambers of the State Supreme Court, where at least one justice became agitated during deliberations over a get-tough-on-crime law and barricaded the doors. Police SWAT forces have brought in a professional negotiator to talk down the situation. The negotiator is now lifting a bullhorn. Let's listen in:

Reflexing his muscleIn an interview with an investigating detective on July 8, State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser admitted he made contact with Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in an angry confrontation but recused himself on the basis that ... well, let's hear Prosser tell it:

"Did my hands touch her neck, yes, I admit that. Did I try to touch her neck, no, absolutely not, it was a total reflex."

To put Prosser's defense into other words: Justice Bradley's neck ran into my grasping, outstretched hands. 

I don't remember ever hearing about Richard Uihlein or his firm, Uline, before this weekend.

But when it was reported that he was the source that triggered a "pants on fire" rating from PolitiFact for State Sen.. Bob Wirch, who claimed to have helped Uline move some jobs to Kenosha, the name sounded familiar.

That's because Uihlein also was mentioned in another weekend story in the same newspaper about how much Supreme Court David (The Strangler) Prosser raised for his recent recount -- listing Uihlein as a $50,000 donor to Prosser.

What's the point? He's not exactly a neutral source. You have to wonder who asked him to issue the unsolicited statement about Wirch -- who's facing a recall election Tuesday -- that set off PolitiFact.

Milwaukee's Fox 6 reporter Mike Lowe had his microphone ripped away from him by a clearly angry David Prosser that looked more like a felon on a perp walk than a Justice going to his chambers.  The camera followed the strangely silent Prosser as he entered his office and keys can clearly be heard being violently thrown after the door was closed.

Wow.  This guy is clearly coming apart at the seams.