I can't take anymore of this death-by-a-thousand-cuts and I wish he'd hit back.
No, you didn't say that. Others here made the "no guts" comment.
If he came out swinging, the MSM would crucify him as "flailing wildly about", "shaken", "grasping at straws". GWB cannot win this media war by himself, and people here keep donating ammo to the enemy.