U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, who has taken on an increasingly sharp profile in Washington as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in a time of widening global security crises, has decided to give up Congress for a career in broadcasting.The other Mike Rogers represents Alabama's Third Congressional district, but he's nowhere near as well-known as the retiring Mike, who has been the most popular member of Congress for Sunday show bookers for two years running, even outpacing the king himself, Sen. John McCain.Rogers, a seven-term Republican and former FBI agent, said in an interview Friday that he will not seek re-election after his term ends this year. Instead, Rogers told Detroit radio station WJR-AM that he will launch a radio show on stations affiliated with Atlanta-based Cumulus Media.
"As I close this chapter in my life, I am excited to begin a new one that allows me to continue serving as a voice for American exceptionalism and support a strong national security policy agenda," Rogers said in a statement.
Rogers will join a fleet of right-wing hacks on Cumulus including Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, and Mike Huckabee. I'll spare you a dumb joke about them getting yet another Mike on the mic, but it does offer a glimpse into the GOP mindset about governance that a veteran congressman would pitch radio broadcasting as a better way to have an impact on the country than continuing to serve in a leadership role in Congress.
Rogers represented Michigan's Eighth Congressional District which Mitt Romney carried by a 51-48 margin in 2012. However, President Obama won the district 52-46 in 2008. Rogers won reelection by a 59-37 margin in 2012.
