He certainly DOES have the ability to riposte, which his advisors are constantly reminding him to tone down, so as not to "offend" people. He is at his best when allowed to be his despised, cowboy-type self. My quibble with him is that he listens to his advisors' banal reminders not to be himself.
He does have the ability to riposte but, in my opinion, not with the effectiveness the alternative posted by Jabba the Nutt displayed.