SPB News for Tuesday.

Republican IT consultant subpoenaed incase alleging tampering with 2004 election

In reintroduction, Palin to do more interviews and “tell her story” — Tacitly acknowledging criticism that she's been diminished in part by an overly protective media shield, Sarah Palin will take a more forward-leaning approach and do additional interviews in the weeks ahead, a top aide said today.

Mussolini-Style Corporatism in Action: Treasury Conference Call on Bailout Bill to Analysts (naked capitalism) Various readers wrote us, and it was confirmed by a detailed report on the call at DealBreaker, that the Treasury Department held a conference call this evening for analysts on the bailout bill. A memo was evidently sent to SIFMA members; others may have been contacted by other means... This is simply scandalous. To have a group of interested parties get a privileged briefing by government officials on a matter of keen public interest flies in the face of what a democracy is supposed to be about... The tap dancing is because they don't want it to get out that they'll be giving a sweetheart deal. The public won't be following each individual transaction to see exactly what price is being paid. But if Paulson makes a statement that assets will be bought at par before the bailout's even begun, that will be reported and might kill the deal.

Governments stump up $23.7b to rescue Fortis Fortis, the largest Belgian financial-services firm, will receive a ¬11.2 billion ($23.7 billion) rescue from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg after investor confidence in the bank evaporated last week.

Government losing support for Afghanistan campaign Australian support for a continued military presence in Afghanistan has significantly dwindled in the latest wide-reaching poll conducted by the international policy think tank, the Lowy Institute. A majority of the Australians surveyed are opposed to Australia's continued military involvement in the country, and only half are confident in the Government's long-term strategy there.

Obama Honored with Congressional Black Caucus Phoenix Award Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama spoke on economic and racial injustice as he received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix award at the 38th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) dinner on Sept. 27 in Washington, D.C.