"Malaise"
Because the first speaker mentioned that the country was in a great malaise you think it was partisan?
Hmmm - you didn't listen to the Wellstone service did you? That was partisan.
To mention that the country was under a great malaise before President Reagan took office is a great understatement and so non-political it's laughable that anyone would think it was.
He could have reminded listeners about the double digit inflation. Interest rates approaching 20%. Gas could only be purchased every other day. The list is a long one.
But he didn't do that. He chose a rather gentle term to describe the absolutely horrific condition the country was in.
We will have to agree to disagree but I think you are 100% wrong to think it was a political or partisan speech.