Morning Constitutional – Monday, 28 June 2010

Good morning, everybody. The U.S. and England are out. Now, your morning constitutional:

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the longest-serving senator in history, is dead at 92. FiveThirtyEight looks at how the W.V. senate seat will be filled.

Elana Kagan\’s confirmation hearings begin today. How Republicans are struggling for a line of attack. Slate wonders: How many votes will Elena Kagan get?

A new study shows that Supreme Court hearings do address real substance; also, women and minority nominees are more closely questioned than white males.

The people of Kyrgyzstan voted to approve a new constitution on Sunday, setting up the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia.

Sitting up straight actually bad for your back.

Map of the World Cup as a communicable disease.

How the things we touch affect our judgments and decisions.

Finally, an American has crossed the English Channel on helium balloons.