Why did Lee Rodgers get Canned from KSFO?

Yesterday was Lee Rodgers last day at KSFO, but he didn’t know it. The management at KSFO learned their lesson when they canned Michael Krasny and let him go on the air one last time. Mickey Luckoff and Jack Swanson weren’t going to let that happen again, so, just like Swanson did with his wife, Melanie Morgan, he dismissed Rodgers after he went off the air. If it was a gracious retirement they would have done a phase out over a longer period.

A bland statement is issued, Brian Sussman is moved to the morning show in a “natural transition” But what is the REAL reason? The media can ask management the reasons but they have no obligation to give real answers and have a history of not answering real questions anyway.

If this is about money, why didn't they say that?

Rodgers might have been canned for multiple reasons and by hiding these reasons they get to keep the myth alive that right-wing radio featuring violent rhetoric is a good business. They don't want to give anyone real data because it would reveal the mess that is consolidated media in America or the battle of male egos within KSFO/KGO management.

Is this about the massive debt that Citadel took on? If that is the reason then why get rid of a money maker? Maybe he wasn't making as much money as they wanted. Is this about advertisers that won't advertise on Rodger's show?

Could it be Sussman is that much cheaper to put on than Rodgers? I don't think Citadel realizes what a financial liability Sussman actually is to the station. They see his salary and don't see the advertisers who walked away from him? Should I remind them again to the ones who left in 2009 because of Sussman? I haven't been focusing on KSFO for a while but it won't take much to start alerting advertisers again.

I wonder if some other personal thing happening? Did Rodgers finally flip out like he did in October 16 2009? On that show he threatened to "quit this stupid job" and then said "We've got some of the dumbest damn people on the planet working here." when he had some technical problems. Maybe Swanson called him on his bluff. Listen to the audio clip. (MP3 version)


Could Swanson be making way for his wife to return? Seeing as her thyroid problems aren't cancerous, she might be available again.

I think it is important to learn the real reasons that Rodgers was canned. If anyone wants to fight right-wing media we need to know what has an impact on them.

I've been working with the folks at Color of Change recently and it is interesting how the mainstream media don't want to talk about how Glenn Beck lost 81 advertisers. Someone at Fox is now subsidizing his show. He is a MONEY LOSER and they won't talk about it because net revenues are covering for the loss of advertising on his shows.

Now maybe Citadel expected KSFO to generate money and didn't get the memo that even if the station loses money they are still supposed to keep funding it (like Murdock does) in order to get the ideology out. You may recall that one reason that KSFO was set up by Luckoff was to protect KGOs right flank.

Melanie Morgan figured this out and went to the Moon people-- who lose millions on the Washington Times every single year-- to keep her in bedazzler sweat pants.

Will Rodgers show up again? I wonder who will take him on? Maybe the same people who took on Savage. Whoever hires him would be wise to actually listen to what he says and not just the euphemisms like "Cranky" or "vituperative" that the media use to describe him.

Here's Rodgers for the genocide of everyone in Iraq.

"You people do what ever you want to each other and [Iraq] just don't give us a reason to come back or we'll massacre every last damn one of you." (audio link) longer link MP3

And here he is calling for the death of millions of Muslims in Indonesia

"Indonesia is really just another enemy Muslim nation. ... You keep screwing around with stuff like this we are going to kill a bunch of you. Millions of you."

(audio link)

If you need a comparison of who Rodgers is like, think about other people who talked about wanting to massacre and kill millions of people because of their nationality or religion.
I have a few names in mind.

Hey advertisers, are these the people you want selling your products? Do you really want to associate your brand with these people? Right-wing radio hosts are not a safe haven for your dollars in your attempt to reach an audience. They will bring you down into the gutter with them.