However, it got off to a less than stellar start. The three moderate candidates in the race – Jill Stein, Cornel West and Chase Oliver – were barred from participating.

Instead, the contest pitted the two frontrunners: former President Donald Trump, the candidate of the far-white Republican Party, widely thought to be the political wing of white-Christianist militias, and Kamala Harris, the current vice president, who led a palace coup two months ago that forced the ageing, unpopular incumbent, President Joe Biden, to abandon his quest for re-election.

When did Aljazeera get this 🔥

[–] johannesvanderwhales@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (25 children)

The debate is literally an agreement between Donald trump and kamala Harris. There is no neutral debate commission involved. This doesn't really make sense.

Those candidates are free to have their own debate if they think they can convince someone to put them on TV.

Edit: Also is Jill Stein a "moderate"?

[–] the_wise_wolf@feddit.org 23 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think the point he's trying to make here is about the undemocratic nature of the election system, in which only the two frontrunners have a chance.

[–] johannesvanderwhales@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

But there is no public debate commission, and no public funding going to these debates. It's two campaigns making a deal with a private TV network to show them on TV arguing with each other. Should there be a public debate commission? And if there were, would it be appropriate to feature more candidates? Maybe! But as is, the only real issue is that the vast majority of the public does not care about these candidates.

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