NAMES & FACES

Mrs. Bush: Rice Rules (or Could)

First lady Laura Bush did the sisterhood-is-powerful thing again yesterday. In an interview with CNN International, she said she would "love to see" Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice run for president.

Bush, who is traveling to Liberia with daughter Barbara to attend the inauguration of Liberia's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , speculated that America will "probably" have a female president within the next few terms. When prodded for whom she has in mind for the job, Bush responded, "Well, of course, a Republican woman. Like maybe Dr. Rice." Although Rice routinely demurs and deflects when asked about the Oval Office, Bush gave her vote: "She's terrific." The president's wife had urged him to appoint a woman to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, but, well, that didn't work out.

Laura Bush also said she provided a little sisterly support via a phone call to Samuel Alito 's wife, Martha-Ann , after she cried during her husband's Supreme Court confirmation hearings a few days ago. Bush pointed out that she, too, feels like doing that "every once in a while."

Is Laura gunning for a stint as a daytime talk-show host or what?

Weighing In at the Rove Roast

That Karl Rove , so hot.

President Bush 's senior adviser was roasted at the Headliners Club of Austin on Thursday and bore the brunt of jokes from attendees such as political strategist Mary Matalin , former University of Texas regent Lowell Lebermann and the president himself.

Jabs included Bush's videotaped suggestion that Rove finish reading the Cliff Notes of the Constitution in the next three years and Lebermann's observation that the Bush and Clinton administrations shared a common weakness: "Two pudgy people in the White House who couldn't keep their mouths shut."

Matalin, the only non-Texan speaker, recalled yesterday that she was a better storyteller than jokester, but she did repeat the president's off-color nickname for Karl, then offered, "Us girls renamed him 'Stud Muffin.' "

A spokesman for the event said Rove was in good spirits and even took notes during the evening. Took notes or names?

Paltrow Preggers

It's official: Gwyneth Paltrow is pregnant with her second fruitlet -- err -- baby.

After months of media speculation, the 33-year-old actress confirmed the big news during an interview after Thursday night's screening of her movie "Proof" in Los Angeles.

According to the entertainment show "The Insider," moderator Lou Diamond Phillips introduced Paltrow as a pregnant woman and asked, "How far along are you?" She answered noncommittally, "Far enough along to feel cumbersome." Paltrow has a 20-month-old daughter, Apple , with rocker hubby Chris Martin.