President Bush comes under fire, even here on FR, for not "fighting back" or getting out in front of a story...
BUT, I think, like you said, that the Republican Party in general, has a real problem with public relations....and a lack of a "fighting spirit".
I am aware Sleuth. However, when he DOES come out fighting, as was the case with the "cut and run" strategists and the NSA leaks, he stands alone. His "party" runs and hides under their desks or saunter up along side the enemy.
Within 48 hours I learned that THE President had the constitutional and statutory authority to order the electronic surveillance of calls to or from a suspected terrorist. How many Republicans jumped on the "we need a thorough investigation" of THE President's actions, as opposed to pointing to the FACTS that authorized the action.