I am not a liberal, and I find it insulting that you would call me that.
I just will not tolerate the idea of abandoning such a charming city. It has not had major catastrophic damage on this level in 200 years, if we abandoned every city just because of catastrophic damage, we wouldn't have San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, or New York. Also though we have mostly moved away from there for better opportunities elsewhere, my family still considers N.O. home, and it breaks my heart to know that I would be on the opposite side of many fellow conservatives who I agree with 99.9% of the time (believe me I also hate the corruption and graft that has taken hold in that city--public official complain about the looters--I say they are the supreme looters--the Democratic Party of the State of Louisiana should look in the mirror.). Kathleen Blanco has blood on her hands, and the culpability of the looters for her incompotence..
but there is no question we should rebuild...
If those cities were economically viable, then it wouldn't matter if we "abandoned" them (i.e., didn't give them federal taxpayer handouts, which is what you seem to be advocating). They'd have sprung up again anyway. The same goes for New Orleans. If it's economically viable to have a city in that spot, then one will grow back up again there.