Is the American election campaign a joke?

Personally i think that it is, I live in Australia and every time i see a report about the American election campaign it's either about the new "celebrity" that a candidate has backing them or simply a candidate saying that they are the best person for the job, i have never actually heard a candidate give any proper reasons WHY they are the best person for the job (simply saying things like "we need new leadership" and "move America forward are not reasons) i've never heard them say what they will actually do in regard to important issues eg. the recession, climate change, wars around the world. All they ever say is crap like "we'll stop climate change and the recession" but they never say HOW.
I also find it disgraceful that peoples votes can be bought with so called "celebrity" endorsements, has your country fallen apart so much that your votes will be swayed be actors.
In Australia if a politician got a "celebrity" endorsement there would be nation wide outrage and they'd have

absolutely no chance of winning, and if they didn't explain exatly HOW they were going to do the things they said they would then they would be laughed out of running.

And don't think that i only see this as it's all our Aussie media reports on, i also watch several American news programs a day (as i have cable and can watch them live from the US)

So do you think that the American election campaign a joke?

Sadly the Americans are no longer interested in the issues of a campaign. In order to boost ratings, news stations have to show what viewers want to watch - and many see actual politics as "boring" and not worth their time. It's really, really sad - and I'm American.

If you look at our headlines, they will say things like "Hillary insults Obama" or "Obama calls out McCain"... it seems like our national media is stooping to the level of our tabloids.

I'm an american, and no i don't think it is a joke. This election is about who is going to be making critical decisions regarding the war we are in, and I take it seriously.

Congratulations to your country for having a perfect political system. And by the way, our candidates do explain how they are going to do things.

You know, we've had some news about the Australian campaigns and candidates.

You need to come off your high horse, Aussie. You guys are almost as bad as the Italians.

Yes. America is suffering from a crisis of leadership. The best and the brightest do not go into politics for the most part. (Except maybe for Obama in this case) Our media concentrates on nonsense issues, such as Hillary's womanhood, Obama's race, McCain's age, instead of concentrating on REAL issues and each candidate's stand on them.

No its no joke. Its real and what we do here will affect you since we are the most powerful country in the world.

It's a huge, obscene joke alright. A dog-and-pony show for the credulous. But the joke is on us.

NO our current president is a tragedy and ur Prime Minister Howard until he lost was one his few backers on world stage. Is deadly serious contest betwen hope and failure

Well, I think you are just paying attention to this year's elections. We have the best system in the world. This year, however, most of the Democrats in the primaries have been duped in falling for an American Idol contestant. They do not know anything about what is going on in the country as well as the world. All they see and hear is a person who is a clean cut beauty who makes good speeches. They are ignorant.
But, when it comes down to the two final candidates, that is when issues must be talked about and answers must be given. Do not take these primaries as the election process. Yes they are, in a way, but in our two party system, each of the party's have their own way of electing a nominee. The real process begins after the nomination process.

This time around, I think our choices are the joke, on us.