Free Republic

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi's ascent to the post of speaker of the House puts her in the spotlight for a variety of "firsts." She's the first woman, the first Italian-American and the first Californian to hold the post. At a Jan. 3 Mass at Trinity University in Washington, Pelosi's alma mater, focusing on the children of Darfur and Hurricane Katrina victims, Jesuit Father Robert Drinan, a former member of Congress, noted that she's the first mother in the seat. But beyond the firsts, Pelosi is a well-known player in Washington with a reputation for effectively leading House Democrats...