Hardly the effect one would expect a statesman to have.

[david11]

So, as he sets out in his quest for a second term, it’s with an alarming drop in his popularity ratings, leading many to ask: how big of an underachiever is Barack Obama? The world is reeling under a global economic crisis, but instead of creative ideation one sees him lapsing into protectionist rhetoric. The entire Arab world is in the throes of a political upheaval, but he is a cautious onlooker. For a man who promised to bring a pacifist turn in world affairs, Obama has neither been able to make peace with the Arab world, nor keep Israel complaisant. Hardly the effect one would expect a statesman to have.

Is the last sentence correct?

Can a person(or statesman) have effect?

 

[5jj]

Well, most 'statesmen' seem to think they have an effect. The effect they have on me is probably not what they intended. ;-)

 

[Raymott]

So, as he sets out in his quest for a second term, it’s with an alarming drop in his popularity ratings, leading many to ask: how big of an underachiever is Barack Obama? The world is reeling under a global economic crisis, but instead of creative ideation one sees him lapsing into protectionist rhetoric. The entire Arab world is in the throes of a political upheaval, but he is a cautious onlooker. For a man who promised to bring a pacifist turn in world affairs, Obama has neither been able to make peace with the Arab world, nor keep Israel complaisant. Hardly the effect one would expect a statesman to have.

Is the last sentence correct?

Can a person(or statesman) have effect?

Of course. The writer is no doubt feeling nostalgic for the statesman-like effect of a George W. Bush who did solve the economic crisis while pacifying Israel and the Arabs.
By the way, the last sentence means "[This is] hardly

the​

effect one would expect a statesman to have."​

 

[SoothingDave]

Of course. The writer is no doubt feeling nostalgic for the statesman-like effect of a George W. Bush who did solve the economic crisis while pacifying Israel and the Arabs.

No, just comparing the man to his marketing.