Lessons from Greek Mythology's Labors of Hercules have much to teach Obama as he faces some very real Herculean tasks.

To atone for a crime that was not his fault, Hercules was commanded by the Delphic Oracle to perform twelve labors. One task was to clean the legendary stables of King Augeas, who had huge herds of cattle. Years of untouched manure piles produced a stench that choked the Peloponnesus...