Newt may not run for President, but he sure is trying to shake up the race by inserting ideas.  Here he criticizes the Bush Administration War on Terror at one point saying only the military is taking this seriously.  To a large degree, I tend to agree that more people in this country need to take the threat real.  Islamic terrorism may not be a literally existential enemy in the way the Soviets were with their thousands of nuclear weapons.  However, they are a threat to kill thousands at a single moment and permanently alter all facets of the American life.  I do think President Bush could have gotten more support rallied in the aftermath of 9/11.  Dealing with the energy issue was and remains one way to really deal with the lingering security implications of our dependence on foreign oil.  I don't assume we can change this state of affairs overnight, but it does seem as though efforts to wean ourselves off are moving in slow motion.

Why not a "Manhattan Project" for oil independence?  Its not just a "green", Al Gore issue, it is a national security issue as well.  Newt is provocative and useful even if the snowman from the Democrat Youtube debate stands a better chance of being elected the next President.