Indeed, it is deeply grateful that Mr Mbeki, and before him Mr Mandela, persuaded the party faithful to ditch their long-held belief in nationalisation and to accept a market economy.
The less-than-optimal response is continued full confidence in my original belief, and a refusal to accept the possibility that the new reality is true.
Should they actually accept that, for example, the nominee's "belief in a strong nuclear deterrent" is so firmly held that he will actually oppose President Obama's further efforts in a second term - in which he has "more flexibility" - to denuclearize the world starting with our arsenal?
Tony Blair would certainly not accept such an idea indeed his conference speech this week contained a strong reassertion of his belief in a United Kingdom.