Upon hearing of Kim Beazley’s commiserations, Karl Rove must have wondered just what he’d lost. Maybe Beazley was consoling him over Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation. Or the serve his boss got from the American public in the mid-terms. Or maybe that blustery pollie from Down Under got plain confused and mistook him for … Rove McManus. One more time:

The first thing I want to say is this: today our thoughts and the thoughts of many, many Australians will be with Karl Rove as he goes through the very sad process of burying his beloved wife. And I just want him to know that my thoughts and the thoughts of my colleagues are very much with him today.

Honourable mention: Alexander Downer: “I also acknowledge the support he gives to the prostate cancer cause, for which I believe he has grown his moustache. My wife is involved in that campaign as well, so I am delighted that he has made an effort.” Laughter within the chamber. “I think you misunderstand.”

Crikey readers say:

Alexander Downer blows the case wide open at the Cole enquiry into the AWB scandal with two short phrases: “I can’t recall/I don’t remember” — Dave Smartt

2005 Winner: Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone talks airline security — “Has it ever occurred to you that you just smash your wine glass and jump at someone, grab the top of their head and put it in their carotid artery and ask anything?”