"Rush Limbaugh's braggadocio patterned after Muhammad Ali": 'Army of One' author Zev Chafets discusses with Matt Lewis

A new Rush Limbaugh book has been released, 'Army of One' authored by Zev Chayets who you may recall managed the rare cover-story profile of Limbaugh for New York Times Magazine.

Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One (Hardcover)
... But there was much more to say, especially after Limbaugh became Public Enemy Number One of the Obama Administration. At first Limbaugh resisted the idea of a full-length portrait, but he eventually invited Chafets back to Florida and exchanged more than a hundred emails full of his personal history, thoughts, fears and ambitions. What has emerged is an uniquely personal look at the man who is not only the most popular voice on the radio, but the leader of the conservative movement and one of the most influential figures in the Republican Party...

Chafets paints a compelling portrait of Limbaugh as a master entertainer, a public intellectual, a political force, and a fascinating man.

Matt Lewis recently hosted Zev on his 'Matt Lewis Show' podcast to discuss the book. They spoke of Rush Limbaugh's braggadocio and how it was seemingly patterned after charismatic boxer and famed talker, Muhammad Ali.

Rush Limbaugh Biographer Zev Chafets on the Podcast
MATT LEWIS: How did you learn he was emulating Ali?

ZEV CHAFETS: I didn't say he was emulating Ali, I would say he was very influenced by him and particularly I'm talking about his style. The notion that you can take the curl of your personality and blow it up to gargantuan proportions and become braggadocious. Predict the round you opponent is gonna fall, have nicknames for the guys you're gonna fight and all the other things Rush does. And draw big crowds that way. Of course that only works if you can actually fight.

MATT LEWIS: I guess my question is, that comparison was that only your observation or did Rush tell you he looked to Ali
ZEV CHAFETS: When I said that to Rush, he looked at me and said that's very shrewd observation
MATT LEWIS: Haha, I love it.

- Listen to the Matt Lewis/ Zev Chafets discussion here

Matt Lewis' interest in the comparison is not surprising as he once used a wrestling analogy to describe the political episode of Arlen Specter's defection to the Democrats - TownHall's Matt Lewis: "Arlen Specter as Hulk Hogan"