California’s ‘Mad Max’ gas nightmare — with drivers to pay the price

It’s like a scene right out of “Mad Max”: The last precious barrel of oil from the Middle East has arrived in California.

It’s aboard the Hong Kong-flagged “New Corolla,” at anchor at the Port of Long Beach, part of a final shipment of 2 million barrels, the last to make it past the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.

California depends on oil from the Middle East, Asia and Latin America because our leaders have decided to phase out production here at home.

And we don’t have an easy way to bring in oil from other states — except on roundabout routes.

Now the real price hikes may start. Now the real test begins.

No doubt Democrats will blame Trump. But this was a choice — a choice made by governors Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

A choice to make California “green” — and therefore to make our state dependent on foreign oil, since renewables can’t yet make up the gap.

A choice that put climate change virtue-signaling above economic reality.

Newsom blames Trump for the high gas prices in California. 

Yet the reality is that California’s gas prices were rising even before the Iran War — thanks to Newsom’s war on fossil fuels, including regulations that are shutting down refineries.

As the California Post reported last week, Californians can drive to Nevada for gas that is almost $3 per gallon cheaper — and they have an Iran War there, too.

California also mandates a unique fuel blend that can’t be replaced easily by fuel from elsewhere.

Once, Newsom told Californians to “sober up” about the limits of green energy. He forgot to take his own advice.

Newsom clearly wants to run for president after leaving office in California. He will have to explain why he didn’t protect energy security in his own state.

Can someone who doesn’t guard his state’s energy supply be trusted as commander-in-chief?

That’s a question for voters to answer in 2028. But for now, drivers looking at pump prices will ask: How do we get out of this?

Ballots arrive in mailboxes this week. Bad choices should have consequences.

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