My have has no use for Rove goes back to his Bush daze spkeman when there were repeated attacks on that administration and no response to those attacks...
I recall Rove being an adviser to Bush, but never a 'spokesman.' Bush's spokespersons were Karen Hughes, Ari Flischer, Tony Snow (God rest his soul) and that really incompetent Scott McClellan. All were pretty good other than McClellan who was in way over his head.
As to not responding to some of the mud slung by the democrats, that was Bush's style. He refused to get down in the mud. He wanted to keep it classy. I don't think it is fair to 'blame' the lack of response on anyone but Bush.