Last night I attended an event here in Los Angeles hosted by Brave New Films to mark the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Robert Greenwald was on hand to show us BNF's newest short film project, Two Years After Katrina.

Watch it:

As Greenwald made clear in his impassioned introduction to the film, while we may have gathered last night for good company, good food and drink and even some amazing live music, the real purpose of the night was to make us angry so that we would, as the tag at the end of the film urges: "...do something." It was a theme echoed by a man who spoke to us after the film, whose world was devastated by the storm. He explained what it was like to be one of the many on the ground during those days with no water, no food, and alas, no help. He spoke emotionally about those that did finally deliver -- the Coast Guard, the Salvation Army and the American people. So he asked us again, do what we can to make sure New Orleans is rebuilt so people can go home.

So, what can we do right now? Brave New Films is asking you to go to WhenTheSaints.org and sign the petition urging the senate to pass Senator Dodd's Gulf Coast Recovery Bill of 2007. You'll also find links to several organizations on the website to assist in the restoration of New Orleans.

As for what the presidential candidates have pledged to do, on top of Dodd's senate legislation, psericks details Obama's plan here, John Edwards's plan is here,  Clinton's plan is here -- indeed all Democrats feature their plans or statements prominently on their websites' front pages. So how do the Republicans measure up? What about their detailed plans? David Dayen over at The Right's Field has the depressing, yet unsurprising results based on the front pages of the candidates' own websites (where prominent links to the Democrats' plans or statements can be found):

Rudy Giuliani: Three-line press release, no specifics.
Mitt Romney: Nothing on the front page.
Fred Thompson: Nothing on the front page.
John McCain: Three-paragraph press release, no specifics.
Mike Huckabee: Nothing on the front page.
Sam Brownback: Nothing on the front page.
Duncan Hunter: To his credit, Hunter was the only Republican to attend the "Hope and Recovery Summit" in New Orleans on Tuesday, and he writes about it. The story accentuates the positives, but at least he offers a tribute and some specifics.
Ron Paul: Nothing on the front page.
Tom Tancredo: Nothing on the front page.
John Cox: Nothing on the front page.

Hmm. Shocker.