Quotations of the Day - ABC News The U.S. is not an island, and what happens abroad matters here. The weakness in Europe, in particular, has a global reach and is affecting us." - Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial, after American employers added only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year. I think John Edwards has no political future. Nada. Zip. I can't think of any Democrat in the country that would want to be on the same stage with John Edwards." - Emory University political science professor Merle Black, a day after the former presidential candidate survived his campaign corruption trial. "Make no mistake, in a steady, deliberate and sustainable way, the United States military is rebalancing and is bringing an enhanced capability development to this vital region." - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on the Pentagon's plan to shift more Navy warships to the Asia-Pacific region over the next several years.