Gov. Brown, a life member of the theatre of the absurd, evoked a fresh round of barely tolerant smiles yesterday.

Burnishing his reputation as California’s most versatile politician, Jerry revived his favorite gesture.

Modestly clinging to the belief that if people refuse to compliment you, you should pat your own back, the governor swung into career-long mode.

Through an accident in timing, Jerry the Environmental Evangelist arrived in China — on a long-planned visit — just days after President Trump pulled America out of the symbolic Paris climate accords.

Ergo, sang the reliably humorous liberal chorus at the Los Angeles Times this morning, the Rev. Jerry is the new leader of the free (climate) world.

Seriously, chortled the Times.

Since the rest of the globe – except for the Times — obviously had nodded off when Jerry strode royally, and unnoticed, into Beijing, no one was around to congratulate him for his climactic climatized coup.

Gazing about the empty room after spending an hour with his newest BFF, the president of China, Asia’s model non-democracy, Jerry patted his own back with both hands – and any others he could rent.

With the greased palms of both hands resting comfortably on his backside, Jerry doffed his boyish bashfulness long enough to glowingly say of himself:

“It’s highly significant that the governor of California can meet with the president of China and talk about the foremost issue of our time.”

Jerry seemed to make a joke about his three failed runs for the White House, which America also regarded as jokes.

“It’s true I didn’t come to Washington, I came to Beijing,” said Jerry, trying to recall where he was. “Well, someday I’m going to go to Washington, but not this week.”

Then Jerry coughed.

Must have been something in the air. China is the world’s leading polluter.

The visit between the giant and the non-giant reportedly had to end earlier than intended.  An assistant to the deputy health secretary of Wyoming patiently was awaiting her hour with President Xi Jinping.