New Year's Resolution: Remember New Orleans

Never forget President Bush's many failures. Never forget that his biggest domestic failure was New Orleans and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Even the Republican Congress couldn't be bothered to address the loss of a major American city and the damage along the gulf coast that is still under repair more than a year later with many areas still neglected. Bush thinks he has a free pass to do nothing for his final two years in office. Americans deserve better. Republicans should join Democrats in demanding action and accountability from President Bush.

Barbara O'Brien, guest blogging at DMIBlog remembers:

In 2005 the winds and waters of Hurricane Katrina flushed the entrenched poverty of New Orleans into the open for all the world to see. And soon after there was much chest-thumping and many heartfelt declarations that we must do something about this.

The "something" turns out to be "bury the problem somewhere else." New York Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote this week,

Sixteen months have passed since the apocalyptic flood that followed Hurricane Katrina. More than 13,000 residents who were displaced by the storm are still living in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Another 100,000 to 200,000 evacuees - most of whom want to return home - are scattered throughout the United States.

In 2008, Republicans like John McCain will be running for president. What did McCain do for New Orleans? What will the other candidates do? Will the Republicans kept neglecting their responsibilities when they're in charge? Why have Republicans said so little about Bush's failures in New Orleans? We need reform in this country and it's sure not going to start with ultraconservative Republicans.