PubliCola's political resolution series continues with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2). Larsen survived a tough challenge from Tea Party favorite John Koster this year in one of the closest calls an incumbent U.S. rep has gotten in Washington State in a long time. (Larsen, a wonky Democrat, won by 6,500 votes out of over 300,000 cast, getting 51 percent.)

Our interest in Larsen's 2011 resolutions tacked back to the Koster race. Did the close call influence Larsen's To Do list? Was he going to try and make pals with the right? (Larsen, who has a rep as a moderate, voted 100 percent in sync with Obama's agenda.)

To the contrary. While Larsen's 2011 agenda does appear to be influenced by his run in with the Tea Party, it reads more combative than conciliatory.

(So far in our series we've also heard from: Washington State AG Rob McKenna; U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, 5); Seattle City Council member Sally Bagshaw, Republican King County Council Member Reagan Dunn; and newly elected progressive state Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34, W. Seattle, Burien, Vashon).

Now, here's Rep. Larsen:

When Publicola asked me for my 2011 political resolutions and to put them in a "chatty" format, I took on the challenge of talking politics without the soundbites and slogans: like I talk with my numerous brothers-in-laws over beer at the 4th of July at mom's. So here goes:

First, keep the job growing policies going. Too many people are still out of work, but mainstream economists say that we did mostly the right things. So, land the tanker, help our small manufacturers, and get credit to the women and men who own these businesses.

Second, I will defend the good this country has done over the last two years. Maybe some have thought we've lost a sense of looking out for your neighbor. I haven't. Holding Wall Street accountable is going to protect people from its vagaries. The food safety bill will literally save lives. Health care reform means parents won't be financially wiped out by a child's illness. The New START Treaty, hell, makes the world safer. We could have done worse. Instead, we did better.

Third, draw lines as a member of the "loyal to my country" opposition. The Tea Party policies will hurt the country while benefiting few, not even rank and file, Tea Party members. One of the most bipartisan things I can do is to point out the direction the Tea Party wants to take us because Dems and Repubs alike, not to mention independents, will suffer from Tea Party policies. Do we really want to repeal the direct election of Senators, give Wall Street back the keys to the economy, and deny seniors needed medications?

Finally, do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. The last is toughest when you're an elected official, but it is worth a try.

It's about this time at the bbq we move on to talk about fishing and hunting. Not bad topics, either.