CNN Poll: Most say Founding Fathers wouldn't be Impressed

They must be turning in their graves:

How would the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin feel about the way the United States has turned out 232 years after declaring its independence?

Not pleased, a majority of Americans recently polled said.

According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, 69 percent of adult Americans who responded to a poll June 26-29 said the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be disappointed by the way the nation has turned out overall.

Twenty-nine percent responded "pleased," the only other choice given to the 1,026 respondents of the telephone poll.

Americans "didn't always feel that way," according to Keating Holland, CNN polling director. "In 2001, 54 percent thought that the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased with the state of the country today."

Still, most who responded to last month's poll took great pride in their country.

Sixty-one percent said they were extremely proud to be Americans; another 28 percent said they were very proud. Seven percent answered "moderately," 2 percent said "only a little," and 1 percent answered "not at all."

U.S. Soldiers In Iraq Mark July 4th

Let's not forget the troops on the 4th:

It's Staff Sgt. Edgar Covarrubias' second Fourth of July in Iraq. No family barbecue, no fireworks, but Covarrubias says he'll call his mom, wife and kids to share the day anyway.

Across Iraq, America's Independence Day was a normal work day for most U.S. troops. But the military threw in a taste of home at larger bases with ribs, corn on the cob and red, white and blue cake.

The holiday is even leaner at smaller outposts closer to the violence, where it comes with a can of meat, some cookies and a job not yet done.

"We are not going to stop our operations to celebrate the Fourth of July," said Sgt. Mark Johnson, 26, at a small joint U.S.-Iraqi outpost in the city of Iskandariyah, some 30 miles south of Baghdad.

"Nothing special is planned for today and that's OK because we didn't expect anything," added the 3rd Infantry Division soldier from Waterport, N.Y.

Protesters Interrupt Bush Holiday Speech

In the spirit of American democracy. At least there are some out there willing to speak up against this un-American President:

ABC's Matthew Jaffe reports: Protesters today repeatedly interrupted President Bush's Fourth of July speech at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's residence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

No sooner had Bush started speaking at the naturalization ceremony welcoming new American citizens than protesters began shouting at him, calling him a "war criminal."

The President paused in his remarks and then responded, "To my fellow citizens, we believe in free speech in the United States of America."

One woman moved towards the stage before being stopped by security, but other protesters still made their voices heard.

Only minutes later, another protester shouted expletives at the President, while still another called Bush "a fascist".

By the time Bush finished his 10-minute remarks, at least nine protesters had been escorted out of the event by law enforcement.

[...]Protesters also lined the President's motorcade route, chanting "Arrest Bush" as he drove to and from the Monticello ceremony.

See a video of the protests: