by R L Bradberry

Created on: April 26, 2008

We are riveted by news this week of the undoing of Eliot Spitzer. A huge fall from grace ironically orchestrated by the very thing he valiantly fought in the past. We watched as he carefully orated his announcement of apology, then his short but eloquent resignation, with steeled speech but wistful words of what could have been. Because Spitzer took no prisoners during his meteoric rise, his surrounding crew mutinied leaving little except a worn, fragile and wrecked Silba at his side.

Liked or not, one can not help but feel intense anguish for what the Spitzer family must be going through. One can only guess how they are dealing with this devastating crisis that now defines the head of their household, and the days ahead will be long and hard. For that alone our thoughts and prayers should be with Silba Spitzer and the children.

That being said, the strange American pastime of exalting a scofflaw sped past the vilification of Governor Eliot Spitzer, leaving him unceremoniously in the dirt, and Silba, thankfully, somewhat alone. Ashley Alexandra Dupre, formerly known as Ashley Youmans, professionally known as "Kristen", is most likely reeling from the publicity and torn as to which way to go. At the age of 22 she faces everything from prison to a photo layout, probation to a book deal. That's a lot for anyone to consider-and definitely a lot for a 22 year old scrapper who indicates she is used to getting things the hard way.

What are we doing here? We are creating something out of Ashley that she could not. At least not yet. Is this the fame she wanted or will any do? Or is she merely another ball of yarn to be batted around by the public until she is used up and her usefulness dissipates into nothing but fluff?

Is Ashley just another sad young girl, struggling to find her way in her very tough world? She has a dream that motivates her to keep moving forward, one small step after the other. Or is she a con artist scamming her audience with a make-believe past for the sale of one more song? Perhaps it is working to some extent. When publishers were interviewed as to the prospects of a book by Dupre, her name and the content were bantered around with the likes of Joey Buttafuoco and OJ Simpson. Not the best company of peers for someone in want of future long-lived celebrity. Her singing, though interesting and not unpleasant, may not make her an overnight sensation-where is Simon when you need him? Playboy or Penthouse layouts might be fun, but what can they contribute

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