The Grand Old Party will try to wrap itself in the grand old flag. Republicans will talk a lot about patriotism and family values and "moral strength". They'll also pander to their special interest groups: fundamentalist christians, Right-to-Lifers and big business. Absent this year will be Ed Meese and the Teamster's union.

They'll also pledge to never, ever raise taxes, and they'll try to blame Democrats for the deficits.

THEY can try to ridicule the Democratic nominee. But personal attacks on Dukakis could backfire. It's all right to mock Bush's rich ubringing, but political suicide to knock Dukakis' "son of Greek immigrants" appeal. Dukakis is a harder target for Republican barbs.

Republicans will stress Bush's ties to the still-popular Reagan, his eight years of loyal service as vice president. They'll say America is bigger, better and stronger than it was in 1980. And, if they're smart, they'll nominate Kansas Senator Bob Dole as their vice presidential nominee.

Trying to maintain their hold on conservative southern Democrats, Republicans may talk a lot about the Rev. Jesse Jackson, trying to frighten the millions of whites who opposed civil rights and backed Gov. George Wallace just 20 years ago. They'll keep referring to the Dukakis-Bentsen-Jackson ticket.

The rest of the convention, the Republicans will try to paint Dukakis as an ultraliberal who is soft on crime and lacks foreign policy experience. They'll also bash Massachusetts, and they'll take a few cheap shots at Harvard liberals. And they'll use the "L" word a lot.

But all of that is criticism, and the Democrats' covention, had it offered only that, would have been less than successful. If the Democrat's win this election because of that week in July, the credit will belong to the Duke's speech on Thursday night, in which he layed out a plan for the country, vague though it may be.

Already trailing, the Republicans are running scared. Unless Bush discovers "that vision thing" real soon, the party's over for the Grand Old Party.