Rush Joins Hall of Famous Missourians

Rush Limbaugh became the newest—and probably most controversial—inductee to the Hall of Famous Missourians in a secretive ceremony yesterday. The radio host spoke to more than 100 Republicans at a closed-door ceremony in the Missouri House chamber, AP reports. He thanked his family, and slammed "deranged" Democrats before lifting a curtain off a bronze bust of himself and hugging it. State police guarded the entrances to the House chamber during the ceremony.

House Speaker Steve Tilley, who selected Limbaugh for the honor, wants the bust placed in the Capitol rotunda with those of other famous Missourians including Mark Twain, Walt Disney, and Harry Truman. But Missouri's Democratic governor released a memo yesterday indicating that a state board, not the House speaker, has authority over the display. Its sculptor, meanwhile, is selling replicas for $15,000. Limbaugh is the 41st inductee to the Hall of Fame. Dred Scott, a slave who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom, was inducted last week. (More Rush Limbaugh stories.)