Nancy Pelosi Fasted

In many ways, Nancy Pelosi is the original Badass Woman of Washington.
There are the obvious reasons, not the least of which is her place in the history books as the first female House speaker.

But it is more than that. It is how she got there -- excelling in a man's world and playing in what was traditionally a boy's club of politics -- as well as, and often better than, her male counterparts.

She's had plenty of detractors and naysayers, even among Democrats. But she is seen as effective, so much so that even her political opponents -- mostly men -- have repeatedly told me over the years that they marvel at her leadership of her caucus.