So an e-mail/list message from Loel states that he feels that "the Eddie story" should be allowed and has merit. What does this prove?

Without knowing the intimate details of the beginning of this dispute, I'm still going to side with the decision made by a group of five, representing the best interests of HIMC, not Loel.

I know that's not what this petty lawyer is actually suing for, so don't bother schooling me. He's p*ssed-off that his (original radio-show) proposal was rejected, so he attacked the board-members personally, waited for them to respond in kind, and then whipped out his... libel suit. What a slimeball.

This whole dispute is, in the parlance of the region, horsesh*t. It's come down to a "he-said, she-said" p*ssing match. The only upper-hand Loel has, is that he's already a lawyer, so he doesn't have to expend the same (financial) resources to sue somebody. I repeat, what a slimeball.

And the claim that the five folks named, are "hiding behind the HIMC", is poppycock also. They would appear to represent the local HIMC, are they not board-members or directors, or some other decision making body?

They are not just five random people living across the street from Loel, they do appear to represent the local IMC, and within that organization, by design, have more weight or even power, than one man named Loel. I don't see anything unfair about that.

To repeat a comment I made previously, "so what" if the (radio) board decided to turn down one man's radio-article proposal. So what? He sues them for libel, and desperately wants the indymedia community to take pity on him? It's way too late for that.

Another thing that smells fishy in this, is how did a guy (Loel) who supposedly was aligned with the best interests of the HIMC, come to align himself with what would seem to be the right-wing old-guard of Houston, in his current effort of trying to pervert justice to squeeze the real-names/passwords out-of pseudo-anonymous posters? This smells like a plot long in the making (by Loel and his coconspirators).

In addition, all IMC's have boards, that make decisions, that must be made. They expend the work and energy, so I respect their decisions, both locally, and in Houston. I don't always agree 100% with the decisions made by our local board(s), but I respect them, and feel like they have our collective's best interests at heart.

It's unavoidable that any local IMC's "flavor" will be influenced by the individuals that guide them, but I've no problem with that. They put in the work, so they can make the decisions. I've never felt like they made any decisions that were unfair, personally biased, or otherwise misguided.

Like many have said, Loel had/still has several outlets at his disposal to publish his "Eddie expose". Obviously what's set him off on this childish witchhunt, is the fact that the HIMC radio-board gave him a thumbs-down on his proposal, so this is the resulting tantrum.

Loel, please get a life, and allow the fine folks at the HIMC to return to more important business. If you have any decency left, announce that you're dropping this frivolous lawsuit, and you might just salvage some respect.