What does the Solicitor General do?

[AndreaCG]

I'm wondering if the current Solicitor General, Elena Kagan, is likely to be giving Obama the advice re not prosecuting torture cases and not releasing the torture photos. In which case, I would find her a less than admirable candidate for the Supreme Court. (Although it might make the Rs like her better!) I know that she was mildly controversial at Harvard Law School for accommodating the conservatives more than many would like, but other than that I have no reason to think she won't be moderate to liberal on the court, and an acceptable successor to Souter in terms of keeping the court's right wing/left wing balance. But the torture stuff is distressing.

[onenote]

1. the SG is, in effect, the chief litigation counsel for the US

To the extent an SG has an impact on policy, it generally would be as a result of advising the Atty General as to the strength or weakness of the government's case in a legal proceeding.

[AndreaCG]

2. So should I be blaming Eric Holder then?

Or just Obama himself for the torture decisions? Or is Obama playing some 3 dimensional chess game that's over my reasoning ability and I should chill out?