An e-mail:

Kathryn, Good points all on the contrasts among McCain’s website and those by Rudy and Mitt. It is heartening to see McCain go hard on the war and even use the “I” word. No doubt his participation in your latest NRO symposium on that surprising NYTimes op-ed is part of McCain’s push to shore up the pro-war right flank. And he did beautifully. But, look closely. McCain is kinda smiling — he is not frowning, nor is his expression blank. McCain’s got a slight upturn of the closed mouth. It’s not a smirk. It’s not a Jim Carrey-esque face-wide grin. But, rather, McCain carries a pleasant facial expression in that shot that displays an inner confidence and comfort in one’s skin. That, at least, is probably what his handlers were thinking when they picked that photo. Indeed, one certainly cannot smile broadly when saying “never surrender.” And putting forth the jowly, grim expression of Churchill (or Cheney, for that matter) just won’t do in these touchy-feely times. McCain’s expression strikes me as just right. What will be interesting to watch is whether Rudy and Mitt pay such attention to their web images when promoting their war views.