Politician red-faced over war game (played video game in Parliament session)

Aftenposten Norway ^ | 1.30.03 | Nina Berglund

[mhking]

Politician red-faced over war game

A member of Norway's Parliament was caught playing a war game on his hand-held computer, right during the middle of Wednesday's parliamentary debate on Iraq. The red-faced representative from the Conservative Party has since apologized.Trond Helleland, a member of the Conservatives (Hoyre) from Drammen in Buskerud, was taped in the act by a crew from Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that was covering the debate.

As his parliamentary colleagues fired at each other about a possible war against Iraq, Helleland fired away with a new game, Metalion, that he'd just downloaded.

Helleland told Nettavisen that he only meant to check his electronic appointments calendar, "but fiddled a bit too much" and landed on his new war game. He admitted that he "just had to try it out."

"It's a robot game where you shoot drones," he said, stressing the game doesn't involve any blood.

Helleland, who leads the parliament's justice committee, apologized for the inappropriate diversion during an important parliamentary session.

"I'll never do it again," he promised, claiming, by the way, that he managed to follow the debate while he played. Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund

[mhking]

Close-up of game:

[mhking]

How about a Game Boy or Palm Pilot version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City?

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Poohbah]

It was probably more intelligent than the debate...

[ContentiousObjector]

Ive been playing Simcity for PocketPC during meetings for almost a year, I haven't been caught yet

[Sabretooth]

Its just Norway anyhow. Not like they were working on reducing the 80% tax rate or anything.

[NonValueAdded]

A member of Norway's Parliament was caught playing a war game on his hand-held computer, right during the middle of Wednesday's parliamentary debate on Iraq.

That's what I think Kennedy was up to when we saw that extended camera shot where Kennedy was purportedly asleep during the SOTU address.

I don't think he was playing games but instead reading messages on a Blackberry or similar device. Did you notice how his eyebrows went up right before the shot ended? That is when he got the urgent message from an aide that he was on camera!

As to the Norwegian MP, he was probably bored to distraction listening to all the liberal rubbish. Can't blame him.

[BlueLancer]

Ive been playing Simcity for PocketPC during meetings for almost a year, I haven't been caught yet"

Well, I've been playing PocketPool for most of my adult life. Want to see my stick?

[hchutch]

Says a lot about the state Norway is in...

[Poohbah]

Well, I've been playing PocketPool for most of my adult life. Want to see my stick?

"Do you want to touch my monkey?"

[weikel]

Hell he wouldn't lose any points from me over this.

[zygoat]

Wow,I hope you don't do away games.

[BlueLancer]

Sorry, but I have my best performances on the road.
8')

[LonghornFreeper]

High school math classes haven't been the same since people figured out how to program decent games on Ti-86 and Ti-89 calculators. Also, it is easy to pay attention to two things at once. A simple video game like this probably takes less than 50% of his attention, leaving 40% free to think about his plans for the rest of the day, and 10% for listening to the inane chatter of liberal parliament members, which is needless to say more than enough.

[KC_Conspirator]

GTA: Vice City is one of the best games of all time.

[Bobby777]

c'mon he was just running war strategies ... anything would have to be better than those ridiculous, wasteful discussions ... if I had to sit in the U.N. and listed to Kofi Annan drone on and on, I'd have to have Duke Nukem on CD to keep me from falling asleep ...