1/ What's truly astounding about the Ukraine story is the motivator for Trump's venal actions. It's not simply (or even mostly) about getting dirt on Biden for 2020. It's more about trying to prove the discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia meddled w/ 2016 election. Why?...
2/ Because if Russia meddled -- the opinion of all intel sources and rational people -- it besmirches Trump's victory. But if Ukraine did, on behalf of the DNC (which they did not), that means (in his mind) that but for their pro-HRC meddling he WOULD have won the popular vote...
3/ In other words, this is all about his ego. He cannot abide the thought that most Americans actually did not support him. So he has to concoct and pursue absurd conspiracies to suggest Ukraine helped the DNC and this unfairly hurt his vote totals somehow (how? Who knows?)...
4/ His narcissism & self-doubt/loathing (instilled by a cold, brutal father and a distant mother, both of whom despised him) require constant validation and stroking by the masses. Admitting he did not (and does not) have the support of most Americans kills him...
5/ Of course there's a money angle. Ukraine is an adversary of Russia so he wants to make it tough on Ukraine by withholding aid needed to defend against Putin's aggression, only providing it if he gets something of value in return to help in '20, since that also benefits Putin..
6/ Putin can forgive military aid to Ukraine so long as in Trump stays in power and continues to act in ways consistent with Russia's imperial ambitions. And Trump has to keep Russia happy. Their banks are the only places from which he and his company can procure loans any more..
7/ But at root, his ego needs are what drive this thing...needs that come from deep down knowing that he's a fraud and a phony: someone who claims to be a self made billionaire but received $400m+ in cash/property from his daddy and was a millionaire by age 8...
8/ Trump is an emotional 8 year old. For those of us old enough to remember The Munsters, he is Eddie Munster stomping up and down at the foot of the stairs when he doesn't get his way or get the adoration he thinks he deserves. Sadly, his cult is fine being led by a 2nd grader
