For years the American conservative movement pandered to a Christian Right they mocked in private to leverage election victories. Trust me, I heard plenty of Republican consultants and officeholders refer to them privately as “the crazies” in the ’80s and ’90s. Now the religious zealots are leading the GOP around by the nose.

So here comes “Culture Wars, The Sequel,”

Dayen’s roundup of scary news stories from Halloween, 2011. Okay, they’re almost always scary these days.

Boo!

What’s the best Halloween you’ve ever had?

With Halloween coming up on Monday, there’s going to be a lot of grown-ups attending masquerade parties this weekend. Which, unfortunately, has meant a lot of long, last-minute lines in crowded costume stores — including the one in Washington, D.C., where all the Republican presidential candidates went shopping earlier this week.

Enter your worst suggestion for Sexy _______________ Costume in the comments. No prizes, just break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar, m’kay? Here, I’ll get you started: Sexy Joe Lieberman.

With Halloween just around the corner, eldritch tales of bone chilling terror abound. Oh noes! Razors in apples, Liquid-Plumr-laced chocolate, and the worst of all: DRUGS!