When Supreme Court Justice Thomas Lied

In the Loop -- Justice Clarence Thomas, during his confirmation hearings 12 years ago, Senate Democrats grilled him for his views on a constitutionally protected right to privacy.

Under questioning from Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), Thomas said that his "view is that there is a right to privacy in the 14th Amendment."

Former senator Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.), a key moderate, focused on the issue in a floor speech announcing his support for Thomas.

But in the court's ruling in June striking down anti-sodomy laws, Thomas dissented, saying: "And just like Justice Stewart, I 'can find [neither in the Bill of Rights nor any other part of the Constitution a] general right of privacy,' " quoting Potter Stewart's dissent in the Griswold case.

Also The Flap Gets Named

And now, in no particular order, the 10 winners of the Loop Name that Flap Contest to give President Bush's WMD problem a catchy name. Entries were judged by national staff reporter Ceci Connolly and national copy desk chief Vince Rinehart.

• The Blair Glitch Affair -- Janine Patry, a director of marketing in Mukilteo, Wash. There were several other variations, such as the Bush-Blair Affair and the Blair-Bush Project.

• Rice Capades -- Arlington consultant Steve Hudak.

• Embelligence -- Washington public affairs adviser Michael P. Gillis.

• Iraqniphobia -- James Keller, who works at the Defense Logistics Agency's office of operations research and resource analysis. (There were many later entries with variations on the theme.)

• Dubya-M-D -- Again, multiple entries. The first was from student Graham Fortier of Chevy Chase, whose entry was the Dubya-M-D Scandal. Later entries, including one by legendary TV writer Herb Sargent of New York, the first supervising writer for "Saturday Night Live," simplified it to just Dubya-M-D.

• Nointelpro -- Los Angeles lawyer and multiple contest winner Mark Steinberg, who also suggested "Perle Jam."

• Uraniumania -- The first of a number of related entries came from Chicago copywriter AngelaWells.

• Litewater -- Arlington patent examiner Martin Angebranndt. (A play on the Clinton scandal and on heavy water -- a missing WMD component -- and on the substance of the evidence.)

• Shock-and-Err -- Mark Miller of Silver Spring, who works in public relations.

• Brits Set Me Up -- Washington lawyer and former federal prosecutor Pamela B. Stuart, playing on Mayor for Life Marion Barry's poetic phrase.