I think the really distinctive difference lies in the approach to life issues, and if this crucial thing is taken out of the GOP platform, you're going to find that there is little other than semantics that separates the GOP from the Dems. And that's a game the Dems are going to win, because they always do.
Frankly, I also think you'll see fewer and fewer differences between the parties if a very liberal candidate like Giuliani gets in. I lived in New York during the time he was mayor (I moved out shortly before 9/11) and he was certainly better than what we had had prior to him, especially on crime. But otherwise there was little difference; his judicial appointments were not particularly conservative, and in fact none of his positions was particularly conservative.