Dick Thornburgh

HARRISBURG -- Former Pennsylvania Republican Governor Dick Thornburgh told a crowd of conservative policy makers and opinion shapers Tuesday night that despite the "shellacking" the GOP received on Election Day, Republicans have a good chance at bouncing back to power in four years.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Commonwealth Foundation, Thornburgh said 2008 is similar to the year he entered into politics, 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson crushed Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, and brought with him a surge of Democratic congressmen and senators.

"And yet, four years later, we elected a Republican president," Thornburgh said. "Can it happen again? Of course it can."

The Commonwealth Foundation was honoring Thornburgh with its Speaker Franklin Award at the Harrisburg Hilton for what its says was his commitment to conservative principles during his time as governor, from 1979 to 1987. The ceremony included a video retrospective on his tenure, highlighting his efforts to cut excess jobs in state government, rein in spending, and bring integrity to government.

A trio of former governors -- Mark Schweiker, Dick Thornburgh and Tom Ridge -- will help the state Republican Party celebrate its 150th birthday this weekend in Harrisburg.

Each is scheduled to talk Friday night at an event the party is describing as its "birthday bash." It will be held at the Harrisburg Hilton, located a short walk from the Capitol.

Although the party is trotting out prominent figures from its past, the focus will likely be on the future -- or at least Nov. 4.

"As our party takes this weekend to commemorate and reflect on the goals an accomplishments of our organization, we will also celebrate the future, as our party works to elect a new crop of Republican leaders, like John McCain and Sarah Palin, who will continue our party's history of good government," party Chairman Bob Gleason Jr. said in a statement.