To find it hard to believe that the US can find no better presidential candidates than Biden or Trump?

[DisquietintheRanks]

33 million adults and that's the choice? Really?

I am well aware that a country who ended up with Truss as PM is in no position to cast the first stone and Americans must vote as they see fit, but am I the only knew who finds the thought of another Biden/Trump face off profoundly depressing?

It’s not a job I would wish on my worst enemy to be fair, plus it is eye wateringly expensive.
There should be age limits on all these things though!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe anyone can announce that they're running for president - that doesn't mean that they will actually end up on the ballot.

I've thought the same thing myself.

It takes millions upon millions to be able to run and that is why it is such a divisive system.

Doesn’t mean either will make it onto the ticket.

@slamfightbrightlight this is true but they seem to be the only potential candidates being discussed in the media.

Well yes as both are controversial.

The real problem is that the level of wealth required to run effectively excludes most candidates.

Not at all. DeSantis, RFK, Christie, Hutchinson are all getting plenty of coverage - and that's just on the national scale, there's probably far more locally where candidates are preparing their election bids.

YANBU but it's true that those who want power should never have it and that those who would do the best with it will never want it

Also it takes so long to navigate the system, get experience, get supporters and prove yourself

I am not keen on either.

I would prefer Trump though if he will rid America of woke nonsense they export in the hope it would gradually cease over here to the 'didn't think it through' crew.

I am beyond fed up of people in the UK winding up people here that the UK had race segregation on a bus and a hierarchy of oppression rather than focus on discussion of their families experience.

I am fed up of refusing sex segregation in sensible circumstances, gaslighting us all, sterilising autistic children.

The not though through contribution to high food costs, all the Getty oil money supporting transportation for these activists and the security, higher oil usage for their plastic posters, glue, their rice fish finger replacements, replacing glass they smash, extra petrol for cars going slowly or remaining stationary and their other irrational luxury beliefs.

Well what else do you expect when the choice is between two parties. The Democrats, who supported slavery, supported the KKK and tried to fillibuster civil rights law in the 1960s, or the Republicans, who think George W. Bush and Donald Trump are good choices for president.

You get the politicians you deserve, apparently.

It's not like we're doing any better here.

@Dotjones I expect better, even with only 2 parties. But if other candidates are being discussed then that's good and I need to broaden my media intake.

I don’t know what you’re reading about Trump but everything I’m seeing suggests that DeSantis is the presumed nominee even though he hasn’t even confirmed he’s actually running yet (I’d be shocked if he didn’t though).

Did you miss off a zero? There are 330 million people in the USA, around 258 million adults. So yes, I'd expect them to find someone better too. Unfortunately though, the only people who can afford to run for president are members of a small group of multi millionaires.

Primary season doesn’t start until Feb next year, so nothing is certain for either party until those results start to emerge.

am I the only knew who finds the thought of another Biden/Trump face off profoundly depressing?

No but they aren't on the ballot yet - the primaries may throw a few curve balls out there.

Our political system could do with a few tweaks but their's does seem very broken.

There seems to be more political consensus on many issues from whole population that you'd expect from listening to their politicians and media but unless a well funded third party with popular support emerges they seem very stuck in very divisive patterns.

The land of the free….where you have to be a multi-millionaire to run for President. Give me a constitutional monarchy any day.

they seem to be the only potential candidates being discussed in the media.

Because they are the only ones with enough financial backing from oil, tobacco, arms, gambling, private healthcare, tax-avoidance, etc. industries to be able to campaign.

This was a interesting watch - we could do better in the UK with democracy - and like many at the minute I feel very politically homeless so do feel it's a bit mean to throw criticisms at USA but at same time think surely they can do better than Biden and Trump again.

The era of Western-led liberal democracy under American hegemony is drawing to a close.

It's quite common for dying empires to have weak, ineffective and intellectually puny leaders in their final years. The Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Soviet Empire and the British Empire are all useful examples.

America is no different and I personally feel quite intrigued at the prospect of living to witness the collapse of an existing political world order to be replaced by another. We are living through an important piece of history.

The American President is the equivalent to the Prime Minister, not whichever Windsor is currently on the throne.

Imagine not knowing that.

That's not true. There's also Robert F Kennedy and Vivek Ramaswamy running.

At least Biden's a credible president/candidate, whatever his flaws. Trump's just a clown.