As they say in the military, there's always that 2 per cent that doesn't get the word.

Case in point: A number of conservative Republicans find themselves supporting -- horrors! -- one of the hated liberal trial lawyers for a District II Appeals Court judgeship in southeastern Wisconsin, while the GOP establishment lines up on the other side.

Why? Because they looked no further than the fact that the other candidate was appointed to the bench by their arch-nemesis, Gov. Jim Doyle.

Doyle appointed Lisa Neubauer in December to fill a vacancy, but she already has to stand for election this spring if she is to keep the job. She's a longtime Foley and Lardner partner, and she and her husband, Jeff -- a former state legislator, Congressional candidate and Democratic state chairman -- have supported many Dems over the years.

But the fact that she is Doyle's appointee seems to have been enough for some conservatives -- including former Waukesha DA and attorney general candidate Paul Bucher -- to come down on the other side. That despite the fact that Neubauer has the support of a list of prominent Republicans longer than your arm.