8:00 a.m. The Westin: Edina, Minn.

The Kansas delegation breakfast. Sen. Sam Brownback was supposed to speak this morning, but his speech was moved to Thursday because of hurricane Gustav. Instead, I spend my morning interviewing Jack Connor, Mike Conner and George Weston. See their story.

1 p.m. Back at my hotel I find a newly erected table with snack boxes, coffee, water, and buttons on it. The buttons have statements like, “Thank you for coming – The Republican National Convention” on them.

My favorite is, “The red carpet is out for you.” Again with the red carpet theme! Whose idea was that?! You look like hypocrites.

7 p.m. Blaine, Minn.

I finally head out to Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty event. Most of the RNC evening scheduled has been set aside because of Hurricane Gustav, so I opt to go to Paul’s event in place of the Excel Center.

Big mistake. I later hear that Cindy McCain and Laura Bush spoke at the convention. After I see my seat on Tuesday, it would have been worth my while to see them up close when no one was at Excel while I still could.

Paul’s event is a big flop. As Adam Wood, avid Ron Paul campaigner and KU student, puts it while we are there, the event was meant to keep Paul supporters out of trouble the night before his real event, Rally for the Republic, on Monday.

I’m surprised more people are not at the event. Considering that the RNC was scaled down today, I would have expected more convention goers to attend the concert.

9 p.m. Wood, Eric Hyde, who made the trip with Wood, and I leave the event and head downtown to see what the nightlife is like. Unfortunately, its lame too and we end up returning to our separate hotels.