Quotes Observed: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6

Each weekend, we bring you a collection of quotes from the biggest (or quirkiest) Observer and national news stories of the week.

Be prepared to talk about the hottest news items during your weekend events, and look out — some day you may just make it into one of our Quotes Observed.

 "It is moronic to shut down the government over this," Rep. Devin Nunes, the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 1

“You can’t swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a small business that focuses on defense something,” Legion Systems Chief Operating Officer Dan Vanderheyden, Business Observer, Oct. 2

"While spam is a small fraction of the incredible content you can find on Twitter, we know just how distracting it can be," Twitter Inc., the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 3

“The whole system of illicit drugs is an economic system. If we’re going to get away from the negative impacts of illegal drugs, we’ve got to strengthen the legitimate economy," Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin, Sarasota Observer, Oct. 3

"We're not in a breakout phase yet. Businesses don't want to be investing in this environment," TD Economics economist Michael Dolega, USA Today, Oct. 4

“It’s a mess out here. Is it going to leave tourists with the best impression? Probably not. But will it keep people away from the beach? No," Siesta Key Village Association President Cheryl Gaddie, Pelican Press, Oct. 3

"The timing on this was really kind of scary. Capitol Hill police are at a lower personnel level because of the shutdown," Rep. Blake Farenthold, CNN, Oct. 4

“If the worst thing they say about me is I work too hard for this community, I’ll take that hit,” Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey, East County Observer, Oct. 2

"I saw a man sitting in flames. He had already doused himself in gasoline, I believe." witness Adam Stifel, CNN, Oct. 4

“There are 60,000 recipes in Italy. Why do they have to invent new ones like lobster spaghetti," author Marcella Hazan, Longboat Observer, Oct. 2