While Dennis is away for High Holy days, Bob Frantz begins with the pledge of allegiance, in response to a California teacher who took down the U.S. flag and joked that students could pledge allegiance to the gay pride flag.  Have we lost the American dream… the belief in American exceptionalism? In an act of stolen valor, Senior State Department officials claimed that the "U.S. has facilitated the safe departure of four US citizens… from Afghanistan.” But those in the dangerous rescue operation say the State Department deserves little to no credit.