http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/grantham-protests-at-being-used-in-ad-20120303-1u9r2.html

RESIDENTS of the flood-ravaged town of Grantham have lashed out at being used as ''political footballs'' after seeing an ALP election commercial showcasing Premier Anna Bligh's leadership during last year's natural disasters.

The powerful ''Anna Bligh for Queenslanders'' commercial is an attempt to resuscitate the Premier's standing with voters by harking back to the high point of her leadership. But it has also exposed Ms Bligh's struggle to translate her performance then into an electoral advantage now.

Set to the emotionally charged ''We are Queenslanders'' speech Ms Bligh made at the height of the crisis, the commercial flashes up images of the Premier wading through floodwaters, comforting distressed residents and surveying the damage wrought by cyclone Yasi.
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But it has been criticised by flood victims still struggling to rebuild their lives.

Marty Warburton, who had to be rescued from the roof of his service station when a wall of water crashed through Grantham a year ago, said: ''I frown upon it. On a personal level I don't have a problem with Anna Bligh, but on a political level I'm just disgusted.''

Mr Warburton said he had spoken to a ''fair few'' people in Grantham who were upset. ''They said: 'We knew she was going to try to use this in the election.'''

Kerry Yem, who has been living in makeshift housing in a churchyard since her home was destroyed, said: ''Anna Bligh herself, I believe she tried hard, she did do a lot during the flood, but I'm not going to vote for her because she's going to lose.''

Mrs Yem said Grantham was ''sick'' of being a political football when the residents were still battling to rebuild.

The town is now divided, with accusations that some people received flood money to which they were not entitled and resentment towards those who are back on their feet. Only a quarter of the townspeople have moved back.

Grantham is in the Lockyer electorate, which is held by the Liberal National Party with a 7.6 per cent margin. But Mrs Yem predicted Bob Katter's Australia Party would do well in the area.

''Bob Katter is going to take this town - we'll all vote for him,'' she said. ''He's outspoken, he puts it like it is. It's the mad hatter for me all the way.''

A senior Queensland Labor campaign strategist said the party was bracing itself for an LNP landslide victory on March 24.

But as the LNP holds its official campaign launch today, the party is warning its candidates in marginal seats against complacency. Internal polling shows the contest is much closer in marginal electorates than the statewide polls suggest.

sh!t happens

Didn't Queensland vote in Pauline Hanson???

Joh Bjelke Peterson???

Bill Heffernan???

Barnaby Joyce???

Being a nut job seams to be an asset in Queensland!!!

::) ::) ::)

If only Joh was still in power in Queensland..they were the good old days of honesty and integrity   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The ad is cheesy, but it's hardly surprising Bligh would  use her handling of one of the biggest natural disasters in our history in a bid for re-election.

The residents of Grantham and other flood victims will have to deal with being a 'political football', just like the disabled, gays and immigrants do.

philperth2010 wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 4:56pm:

Didn't Queensland vote in Pauline Hanson??? Joh Bjelke Peterson??? Bill Heffernan??? Barnaby Joyce??? Being a nut job seams to be an asset in Queensland!!! ::) ::) ::)

Don't forget Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan... :D :D :D

philperth2010 wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 4:56pm:

Didn't Queensland vote in Pauline Hanson??? Joh Bjelke Peterson??? Bill Heffernan??? o Barnaby Joyce??? Being a nut job seam s to be an asset in Queensland!!! ::) ::) ::)

I don't know much about the other two, but Pauline is my inspiration and Barnaby is currently my favourite politician next to Mr Abbott.

I was recently in QLD, and saw the ad. Its a disgrace and a really low act, but unfortunately no surprise from a Labor politician. Bligh ought to be ashamed of herself for stooping to such a low level.

Can I have the political leanings of those residents being used as "political footballs''.
I'm sure they are Labor through and through but this just pushed them over the edge ;)

Dsmithy70 wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:00pm:

Can I have the political leanings of those residents being used as "political footballs''. I'm sure they are Labor through and through but this just pushed them over the edge ;)

How do you know that they're not?

How do you know that Pauline is not a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream?

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:18pm:

How do you know that Pauline is not a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream?

How do you know that she is? It's so typical of the left to throw around disgusting allegations like that.

matty wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:34pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:18pm: How do you know that Pauline is not a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream? How do you know that she is? It's so typical of the left to throw around disgusting allegations like that.

In my book there's nothing wrong with being a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream.

It takes all kinds and the more the merrier to make up the rich tapestry we call society.

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:18pm:

How do you know that Pauline is not a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream?

You have that title Annie.

Nah. I'm on a diet.

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:41pm:

Nah. I'm on a diet.

Ok so we will go  with the rest of it.......................[font=Courier New][font=Courier]sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream.[/font][/font]

blackadder wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 8:25pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:41pm: Nah. I'm on a diet. Ok so we will go  with the rest of it.......................[font=Courier New][font=Courier]sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream.[/font][/font]

Oh my goodness. What on earth are you trying to do? I would have thought you of all people would realise that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. In fact, I would have guessed that would be your mantra.

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 8:28pm:

blackadder wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 8:25pm: Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:41pm: Nah. I'm on a diet. Ok so we will go  with the rest of it.......................[font=Courier New][font=Courier]sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream.[/font][/font] Oh my goodness. What on earth are you trying to do? I would have thought you of all people would realise that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. In fact, I would have guessed that would be your mantra.

Oh Annie Annie Annie, you will never have the pleasure of finding out.  :-*

blackadder wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 8:31pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 8:28pm: blackadder wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 8:25pm: Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:41pm: Nah. I'm on a diet. Ok so we will go  with the rest of it.......................[font=Courier New][font=Courier]sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream.[/font][/font] Oh my goodness. What on earth are you trying to do? I would have thought you of all people would realise that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. In fact, I would have guessed that would be your mantra. Oh Annie Annie Annie, you will never have the pleasure of finding out.  :-*

Blackdudder's bread isn't buttered on that side Annie.

Life_goes_on wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 7:38pm:

matty wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:34pm: Annie Anthrax wrote on Mar 4th, 2012 at 7:18pm: How do you know that Pauline is not a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream? How do you know that she is? It's so typical of the left to throw around disgusting allegations like that. In my book there's nothing wrong with being a big sadistic dyke with a fetish for patent leather and whipped cream. It takes all kinds and the more the merrier to make up the rich tapestry we call society.

Oh my goodness! That's an image I didn't need in my head thank you.

Gist wrote on Mar 4^th, 2012 at 9:17pm:

dyke with a fetish for patent leather

Ahhh memories, that was how I first saw our beautiful Annie.
Although I prefer mistress rather than dyke as a description
:o ;D

Don't out me, Smithy. I'm pretending to be a lady now.