Bush: 'Better Days Are Ahead' for New Orleans

President Bush spoke at a New Orleans charter school today, commemorating the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and promising a "strong commitment" from the federal government to rebuilding the city. But many residents viewed the president's visit with skepticism, the NY Times reports, angered by what they see as the White House's incompetent reaction and apathetic follow-up to the disaster.

With a local editorial accusing the White House of funneling more money to Mississippi, led by a Republican governor, Bush said fixing New Orleans' levees is the focus of federal efforts. "The levee system is a federal responsibility," he said, "and we'll meet our responsibility." Bush also highlighted the push to reopen schools, efforts called "inadequate" by one think-tank. (More New Orleans stories.)