I think you're right on all counts. Sometimes the best things public figures can do in a response to an event is STFU.

Well, if they STFU long enough, they won't be public figures for very long (then again, in her case, that wouldn't be a bad idea)

I guess we just see this differently then. Obama visited her yesterday, and he certainly has a bigger entourage than Palin. I still say it would have been the right thing to do.