Official shad planking held again for 1,000 Virginia politicos

The Washington Post has this report on this year's shad planking, "the annual rite of spring in Virginia politics". The article notes that Del. Brian Moran plans to run for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General in 2005. The article notes that the event has lost some of its importance, "but throngs still descend on this Southside hamlet to pay homage to the tradition of picking through spiced filets of shad, an oily, bony fish that's smoked overnight on wooden boards beside hot coals." The Richmond Times has this report, which notes that Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott, who opposed the war in Iraq, received a few boos when introduced.