[Program Note: We are taking a break from our normal columns today for a very important reason. We apologize in advance for the lack of objectivity in today's offering. But seeing as how what we were working on for today was nothing more than a few pages of pure snark directed at air traffic controllers, it's probably best for all concerned that we take this break. If you're interested, this (unwritten) column would have heavily relied on the lyrics to Mike Oldfield's "Five Miles Out" (from the album of the same name), which you can read for yourself, and then pretty much understand what I would have written, anyway.]

It's that time of year again!

Netroots Nation, the big convention of lefty bloggers held annually by the Daily Kos crowd, is only a few short months away. Naturally, this means the online voting is getting fierce for the scholarships provided to worthy bloggers by Democracy For America.

And we here at ChrisWeigant.com simply cannot stay on the sidelines. Once again, we strongly, strongly urge all of our readers to cast their vote online for Matt Osborne to win one of these scholarships.

Matt is not only a friend of the site (whom we met electronically here in the comments section initially, and then in person at last year's Netroots Nation conclave), but is also a very hardworking blogger in his own right. If you haven't checked out the Osborne Ink site before now, you are quite honestly missing out on some topnotch blogging.

Matt was worthy of a scholarship last year, and he is just as worthy of a scholarship this year. I encourage everyone to cast your online vote for Matt right now, and after you've done so, keep checking back on the leaderboard page to see how he's doing in the voting. If he makes it into the top three vote-getters, he automatically will be awarded a scholarship.

I call upon the ChrisWeigant.com community to come through for Matt. He is the most deserving blogger I know for such an honor, and we should do everything we can to help him achieve it again this year.

So -- what are you waiting for? Go vote for Matt! The time is now! Cast your vote, and tell your friends!

-- Chris Weigant

Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant