GLAAD does not speak for the majority of Americans. A&E was just looking for an excuse to let DD go.
It's a disservice to the stockholders to get rid of the highest rated and top grossing show. So I kind of think that it was not their plan, but an act of total stupidity by the top execs (all female, btw), who thought they could have their cake and eat it, too.
Calm the Gaystapo with a temporary suspension, then back to raking the money in.
This is a case where somebody stepped in a pile of stupid letting their PC sympathies get in the way of making business decisions. A simple statement that Phil Robertson's views are his own and do not represent the network was all they needed to do.
Now their cash cow is out of the barn and wandering down the road. I'm enjoying every bit of this blowback.