Netroots Nation is just around the corner, and we've got two announcements you can't miss:

First, if you're planning on coming down to Austin for Netroots Nation '08, now's the time to register.  Right now (and only until December 27th at 11:59PM Pacific time), registration is still just $250, discounted from the full price of $450.  

Take 2 minutes and sign up now!

Second - we're happy to announce the beginning of the process to submit agenda ideas!

Bumped from the diaries -- Jonathan... This should be a bundle of fun. I've heard Austin is a great town. And, truth be told, it's probably right time I make it to the South for the first time (and, no, I'm not counting the non-Southern parts of Florida I've been to as the South).

July 17-20, 2008: Netroots Nation is coming to Austin!

The face of progressive politics is changing. Regular people have taken it on as their civic duty to become activists, and citizen journalists, and even run for office. The trend toward more decentralized, people-powered politics and media is accelerating, and at Netroots Nation, we are doing our part to focus that trend on creating a more progressive America.

But to do that, we need to raise the bar even higher than we have before. We have to reach out to other blogospheres and communities, progressive organizations big and small, and, as always, more individuals who have found themselves disaffected by politics as usual.

That is also why we are thrilled to partner with BlogHer  and feature a real-time virtual panel in conjunction with their San Francisco conference the same weekend.

BlogHer is a terrific community of--you guessed it--women bloggers. Although politics is only one of many topics their bloggers focus on, BlogHer is a community growing in influence and purpose, much like Netroots Nation. We're excited for our two communities--the preeminent online progressive conference and the preeminent women bloggers conference--to meet and work together.

This is just the beginning. We will be announcing the details of this panel, along with other exciting partnerships, including programs involving state level blogospheres, soon. Register before the end of November at a reduced rate. And as always, visit netrootsnation.org for updates or to send us your suggestions.

Bumped from the diaries -- Jonathan... This is very exciting stuff, indeed. Netroots Nation is going to be the premier confluence of progressive activists and organizations, and it's great to see so many talented and able people involved. Along with the Democratic National Convention in Denver, it's going to be a really fun summer next year.

crossposted at NetrootsNation.org

The face of progressive politics is changing. Thanks in large part to growing online communities, activism, organization, and communication are in the hands of the American people more than ever before. From electing candidates to fact-checking the traditional media and everything in between, people-powered politics will only become more influential as our Netroots community continues to diversify and grow.

Our organization's new name--Netroots Nation--reflects that shift. After two tremendously successful YearlyKos Conventions, creating and hosting the preeminent online progressive conference will stay central to our mission. But as we enter a new era in politics, we aim to do much more. In the coming weeks, we'll be talking more about our plans to further amplify progressive voices and brainstorming with your help ways we can give progressive activists the tools they need to hold elected leaders of all stripes accountable and ultimately see a new progressive agenda enacted.  

The possibilities are endless.