For the record, the LIVE_INDEXING stuff is total crap. In Kitsune we conflate "live indexing" (which is when we reindex a document on post_save/post_delete) with "ES is enabled". This command shouldn't have to deal with live indexing at all.

Sorting out the live indexing vs. ES enabled thing is something I keep meaning to do for Kitsune, but haven't had a chance to, yet.