Looks like two American political figures gut cut-rate sentences yesterday for offenses which deserved more jail time.

First, in Detroit.

Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to felony charges here on Thursday and agreed to resign from office and serve 120 days in jail, ending eight months of political turmoil but also opening a new era of uncertainty for the city.

Uncertainty? Yeah -- the city's two top officials can't contain their personal animosity in public, and many of the members of the city council are under federal investigation for offenses even more serious than those against Kilpatrick. That city clearly needs a wholesale leadership change.

Too bad, though, that Kilpatrick wll escape the full penalty for all his offenses -- and will be able to run for office in a few years when his five years of probation ends.

On the other hand, an old acquaintance of mine from my college days is getting a cut-rate sentence for cooperating with the feds -- something I am not happy about.

Jack Abramoff, the powerhouse Washington lobbyist who admitted running a wide-ranging corruption scheme that ensnared lawmakers, Capitol Hill aides and government officials, yesterday received a reduced sentence of four years in prison because of his cooperation with federal investigators.

Again, and as I've said in the past, I object. Public corruption cases deserve full punishment, not "get out of jail early" cards.

And yes, it looks like a problem may be about to arise here in Houston.

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole said Thursday that he expects to be forced from office by an FBI investigation into corruption allegations that appears to be centering on the design of his home by a prominent retired architect.

The Precinct 4 commissioner said FBI agents have interviewed many of his friends, some as recently as this week. He said he expects to be called in for questioning soon and would not be surprised to be indicted, though he insists he is innocent.

"I guarantee they can take that information that they've got and the friends that they've talked to and they can make a case on me," said Eversole, who volunteered the update regarding the investigation when asked about recommended ethics changes at the county. "That's why I say my days are numbered. There's no doubt about it."

And while that isn't quite an admission of guilt, I think it is sufficient grounds for me to make this Harris County Republican precinct chair to make the following demand of the Republican county commissioner -- RESIGN NOW, JERRY! I'll reserve judgment, though, on the matter of jail time.