A couple of weeks ago, there was gushing over a new economic team slated for the White House in January. A week later, the announcement of a new national crisis kicked the economy off the front page, at least for a day or two. After both press conferences, the nominations were applauded by left and right.

What I want to know is this: where was the green nominee? Where was the nominee who will stand – like it or not – smack in the middle of any economic recovery and national security? Where was the nominee who can stitch together a framework that includes new American jobs, national security, failing water and wastewater infrastructure, coastal insurance costs, polar bears and whales, farm subsidies, fossil fuel emissions, global hunger and the march of insects beyond their traditional ranges?

Next week, or the week after that, another round of nominees will be introduced to the public. I suspect the list will include some impressive, skilled nominees to head government agencies, including the EPA. Setting the EPA onto a path that’s now overgrown with weeds will be a back-breaking proposition for anyone, no matter how smart and tough and disciplined and experienced and insightful.

I’ll be interested to see who gets tapped to lead EPA and Interior, but the nominee I really want to see is the one who sees the green threads in every piece of fabric.