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.
"Malaise" is -- to my ear -- utterly tied to Jimmy Carter; God knows he was ridiculed enough about it. He didn't have to mention Carter by name.
Malaise was Jimmy Carter's term. He first used it, he first accused the nation of being it. It was after his "deep think" retreat at camp david. IOW carter blamed the people for the Malase and said the people were the root cause of it.
Reagan came in and reminded us we can do. Can do better, and accomplish all we aspire, we ARE a force of good in the world. He then lead by example.