I stumbled upon this article which is a pretty shocking, but obvious explanation for Trump’s irrationally adamant support for all-things-Russian: The Hidden Danger to Public Servants: BLACKMAIL by David Brin, Ph.D., who writes this:
One of the most basic ancient techniques -- going back to biblical times -- has been entrapment and blackmail.
Remember the U.S. Marine guards at our embassy in Moscow, some decades back? It all started when a few boys -- lonely and far from home -- were invited to party with some local "students." A little alcohol, then sex with local hookers... (where's the harm?)... were followed by a drug high or two... and a few lewd pictures... then some incriminating ones...
Think about it. Trump must be hearing, loud and clear, how horrified the media and the learned public are about his defense of Putin and Russia. And we all know that there are significant financial connections between Trump and that country. However, what is happening—at least in the media—is that they are getting sidetracked by Trump’s narcissistic drives, using them to explain why Trump loves Putin: “Putin called me brilliant,” etc.
But what if that’s just a smokescreen that enables Trump to distract us from the real reason. Again, think about it. The thing that many people think is really what is keeping Trump from releasing his tax returns is that he may not be as wealthy as he says he is, right? And who would be able to reveal that fact other than the IRS? His debtors, that’s who. Granted, in this country, there are privacy laws which prohibit financial institutions from revealing such information. But that wouldn’t stop a Russian agent from doing so, would it?
Back to Dr. Brin:
At any point, early on, those young men [the Marine guards at our embassy in Moscow] could have saved their own lives and served their country simply by turning themselves in…Instead, alas, they let themselves be blackmailed, by gradual stages [like more and more loans for Trump], into doing the KGB "just a few harmless favors"...
... relatively harmless, at first. Xeroxing a few embassy visitor lists. Penny-ante stuff.
...And meanwhile the girls and drugs kept coming. Plus flattery. [Creepy, eh? The bold is mine.] "You are special, James Bond types -- above normal loyalties and laws." Very similar patterns of ego-milking helped to suborn the Walkers and that dismal FBI agent, Hanssen.)
This points to something that I have wanted to scream at everyone (media, Trumpeters, David Waldman (love his podcast, but...). Very few who present commentary to others ask (and/or consistently asks) “WHY” or “HOW.” Sometimes the “why” doesn’t even exist, like, “If Hillary is so corrupt, how come she’s never been caught?” or “If Bill and Hillary have reaped millions from their abuse of the State Department and other nefarious deeds, why hasn’t that money showed up on their tax returns?” or “If the Clinton Foundation is a slush fund for the Clintons, why can’t someone follow the money to prove that?” or the super-duper obvious one: “Mr. Trump, you say you will spend $20 billion on education and even more on improving the VA if you are elected. How will you convince your party, which has blocked state and federal investment in public education or the VA at every turn, to allocate those funds?”
Not asking “why” or “how” is a true disservice to a public which lacks the time, motivation or critical thinking skills to extend partisans’ statements into realms which rationalize their behavior or their rationalizations.
This is also why, IMO, everyone needs to start asking beyond Trump’s narcissism, WHY he reacts the way he does, especially when it comes to money and relationships and why I will end with one more chilling observation from Dr. Brin, one that may even be relevant to “Bondigate”:
Moreover, consider this: Bribery is actually far less efficient and reliable than blackmail!
If you bribe an official or legislator or bureaucrat, they may demand more, next time, or simply say "I helped you enough, this year." But blackmail puts them in your pocket for good. It transforms the relationship, making him or her less a business associate and more your personal servant.