Quayle shrugged and said, "Every five years Congress has to pass a farm bill. That's just the way it is." IOW, "don't try to lay that all at Bush's feet and, furthermore, get a life (and a political education)."
If you want to be mad about the farm bill, flame the Congress. Yes, the president could veto, but that would have accomplished exactly zero except for the Rats' 30-second spots in November.
Sorry, bud, but Dan Quayle isn't the VP anymore. Those titles go with the job and aren't theirs anymore when they leave office. Would you call Clinton "President Clinton"? I wouldn't.
Yes, Congress passes a farm bill every five or so years. Any sitting president can veto such a bill and tell Congress the items he objects to. They then have the choice of amending the bill, withdrawing it or repassing it over his veto. What on earth do you mean that the veto is worthless except for what mileage it would give the other party? The veto is the president's tool for shaping legislation. If he doesn't use it, he can only be assumed to approve of the legsilation, pork and all.
It sounds to me as though you and Dan Quayle are the ones who haven't the foggiest clue about how our government is designed to work. These three cushion political bank shots you seem to admire have diddly to do with how Congress and the president are supposed to work and everything to do with political strategy (read dishonesty and subterfuge) and the use of that sort of strategy is what has destroyed our country.