Trish Hooper's 'Political Odyssey' Trish Hooper's 'Political Odyssey' (September 22, 2004)

By Marion Softky
Almanac Staff Writer

Trish Hooper can write about anything -- and does. Briefly, with punch and passion.

The Portola Valley writer/artist/leader may be best-known to people who read letters to the editor. For 35 years, Ms. Hooper's thoughts on life, death, politics, religion, pets, and almost anything you can think of, have appeared in publications from the Almanac and San Francisco Chronicle to the New York Times, Time and Newsweek.

Now she has published her second book this year, just in time for the November election.

"A Political Odyssey" is an account of Ms. Hooper's personal political journey from conservative Republican to passionate proponent of regime change. It is told through copies of her letters-to-the-editor over the last 20 years, linked by essays in her direct, personal, pithy style.

The first of more than 60 letters appeared in the Almanac almost 20 years ago. It responded to a "Dear Friend" letter from James Watt, President Reagan's environment-slashing secretary of the interior. It was titled: "After 40 years, I'm not proud to be a Republican any more."

Sixty letters and 40 short essays later, Ms. Hooper concludes that the Republican Party has veered disastrously away from her values of peace, separation of church and state, environmental protection, freedom of choice, and fiscal responsibility.

The last letter -- to the San Francisco Chronicle last May 19 -- addresses torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's called: "The dark side of America's psyche."

The preface and epilogue of "A Political Odyssey" are written by her daughter, Helen Hooper McCloskey, whose husband, former Congressman Pete McCloskey, is a prominent leader in Republicans for Kerry. Ms. McCloskey concludes: "Don't be indifferent; indifference is a form of denial and fear. Be powerful. VOTE."

"A Political Odyssey" is available at Kepler's bookstore in Menlo Park.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.