What we have now is a situation where a minority of intransigent GOP House members--not even all Republicans--can bring the government to a standstill.   Boehner can't get anything through since his own party can't agree among themselves.    So everybody treads water and tries not to drown.

It's by no means a rightward drift--just a few who refuse to compromise.   But the legislative system is set up so they have power beyond their numbers.

If there were a rightward drift we'd have President Romney.