I still have doubts about whether the White House has the stuff to see this one all the way through - they've played the punching bag for so long that I wonder if they've forgotten how to fight. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now and say they're ready for it.
The President threw a firecracker into the hornet's nest with that speech today. If he thinks he can now just stand there and try to play nice, he deserves to get stung over and over again.
You are absolutely right.