Shad Planking

The Post has a great article on George Allen's overwhelming show of support at yesterday's Shad Planking

More accurately, the Allen fans were the crowd. At the 58th annual Shad Planking, where Virginia's political set heralds campaign season each April, it was hard to find someone who doesn't plan to vote for the Republican U.S. senator this fall. And it was hard to see the candidate himself as he made his way slowly through an adoring throng of beer-drinkers, cigar-smokers and gobblers of the planking's famous plates of fish, coleslaw and beans.

They also ran this picture, which highlights one fact of Virginia's political life I find a bit distasteful.



See those little red circles with blue crosses on all the folks (especially the lady in white up front and the black man behind her)? They are Heritage Not Hate stickers that the local Sons of Confederate Veterans pass out en mass at all such gatherings. Now, I understand their message (my father in law is very active in his local camp down in Georgia) but I find the stickers and their in your face attitude a bit offputting. Frankly, I wish they would just fly the confederate battle flag (or even better, Bonnie Blue) than toss out these stickers which really do look more Klanish than otherwise are necessary.

And the pressure they excerpt on people to wear them is, frankly, one of the reasons I don't go to these types of events as much as I used to.

UPDATE For a great photo gallery, check out Spank The Donkey!!!