So this month, the excuse was that the American jobs machine got bogged down in the snows of February.

Nonfarm payrolls fell by 36,000, but economists say the good news is that when the snow melts, the pace of hiring will resume smartly.

To be sure, there are indicators amid the economic slush that the jobs picture could brighten in coming months, such as the upward revisions in recent months' employment figures. But we continue to worry that what one might call the Obama Uncertainty Principle sits heavily on employment prospects.

In a letter to his shareholders, Edward S. "Eddie" Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, summed up how Washington's political obstacles may impede a robust recovery:

"Sears Holdings shares the stated goal of many public officials of creating jobs. But, we don't believe that we need large government programs to generate these jobs. Public officials often fail to recognize the obstacles they place in the way of job creation. For example, over the past year proposal after proposal has been put forward to reform health care, reform the financial system, increase taxes, and add regulations, all with the intention of making the United States a better and stronger country.