Scott Paul,  executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, gave the following statement on Tuesday's State of the Union address:

We welcome the President's focus on innovation, infrastructure, and education, as well as his commitment to win the jobs of the future. This is, indeed a new Sputnik moment for America, as we have argued.  But 50 years ago, America had a trade surplus, a healthy manufacturing base, and virtually no global business competition.  Our challenge today is as much about rebuilding as it is about innovating. Most blue-collar Americans want to hear about how secure their jobs are, or how they can find good work.  President Obama still needs to make that case.   We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to pass a 'Made in America' plan that will secure good manufacturing jobs now and in the future."

Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, released the following statement about the President’s initiatives on clean energy:

We are pleased to see the possibility of the first predictable long-term federal policy toward renewable energy. But of course we’ll need to make sure the policy really deploys the renewable energy Americans want in the near term, as well as the long term. Wind energy can deliver right now on its promise to deliver new electricity to Americans more affordably than any other energy source, if we have a level playing field to compete with the permanent entitlements that fossil fuels have enjoyed for over 90 years. On ending billions in oil industry tax subsidies and investing in “tomorrow’s energy”:  It is true that fossil fuels receive five times more in federal incentives than renewable energy. We don’t believe that is in line with Americans’ current priorities. The predictability of the permanent incentives for conventional energy sources is as important as the amounts. Renewable energy currently suffers from the inability to predict whether incentives will be extended every year or two. It’s time to reorient the tax code to predictable policies that allow energy sources that will never run out, to thrive -- instead of keeping renewable energy on a constant one-year footing. On producing 80% of U.S. electricity from “clean energy sources” by 2035: We look forward to reviewing the proposal. It is important from a jobs perspective to focus on deploying clean energy sources over the next few years. Wind energy is ready to go now; we don’t need to wait nearly three decades. We’ve got to more than double the renewable portion to have a truly diversified portfolio. By 2030 wind can be up to 20% of the electric supply all by itself, according to a study by the George W. Bush administration. And it insources jobs and investment into America. That’s what our industry is doing to make good on this national commitment to clean energy and economic growth. On putting 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015: We are looking forward to driving our cars on wind. With plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles headed for showrooms, that has finally become a reality. We applaud the president’s emphasis on innovation and ingenuity, and getting more jobs from clean energy. Wind energy has improved its efficiency 40% in five years. In tight budget years, it makes sense to invest our money in that kind of new technology. We look forward to working with the new majority in the House and leaders in the Senate to diversity America’s energy portfolio and foster renewed economic growth.

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At Daily Kos on this date in 2005:

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. In this case, we, the undersigned bloggers, have decided to speak as one and collectively author a document of opposition. We oppose the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the position of Attorney General of the United States, and we urge every United States Senator to vote against him. As the prime legal architect for the policy of torture adopted by the Bush Administration, Gonzales's advice led directly to the abandonment of longstanding federal laws, the Geneva Conventions, and the United States Constitution itself. Our country, in following Gonzales's legal opinions, has forsaken its commitment to human rights and the rule of law and shamed itself before the world with our conduct at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. The United States, a nation founded on respect for law and human rights, should not have as its Attorney General the architect of the law's undoing.