First-offense auto theft is a slap on the wrist in state court.
Bank robbery is a long stretch in a federal pen.
Similar questions arise in trying to figure out why Mufi Hannemann is running for mayor against Jeremy Harris. Hannemann, a long shot from the start, may see his run end tonight if Harris draws 50 percent of the primary vote to win the election outright. Even if Hannemann forces a run-off in the general election, the outcome is a formality unless political lightning strikes between now and then. The puzzling thing is that Hannemann always had his eye on the U.S. Congress, not mayor. After two losses in congressional races, the Harvard grad and former White House fellow concluded that voters weren't going to elect him to Congress until he paid his dues at a lower level.