Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich finds himself with a 4 percent approval rating after his venal conduct is exposed to his constituents. Appointing a replacement for Barack Obama's Senate seat allegedly had a price, part of which was a seat for his foul-mouthed wife on any board of directors that offered a stipend of at least $150,000 . What he should do is appoint himself as the next senator from Illinois - Sen. Blagojevich. This could be the Illinois way.

Now, juxtapose this scenario with New Hampshire. When Tilton-based Providian Bank, years back, ran afoul of the law and state regulators it needed a friend in state government, and it had one - for a price of course, just like in Illinois.

Providian had generously donated $50,000 to a New Hampshire-based charity. It was small and had only one employee - coincidentally then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's daughter.

Many people in the know believe Providian did not feel the full wrath of the law for its misconduct, only receiving a slap on the wrist from the state of New Hampshire. There appears to be plenty of unseemly similarities between these two governors.

So, what do New Hampshire voters do? They brush off this, ahem, appearance of impropriety and elect Shaheen as our next senator. That is the New Hampshire way. Blagojevich should definitely appoint himself as senator. He would get along famously, or perhaps infamously, with the next junior senator from New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen.

GARY COORSSEN

Bow