24 (TV Series)

Day 6: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (2007)

D.B. Woodside: President Wayne Palmer

Quotes 

• Tom Lennox : I just heard about Karen's resignation: sorry for the loss

  President Wayne Palmer : Are you really sorry? Because your words seem somewhat hollow to me

  Tom Lennox : It's no secret Karen and I "butted heads" the last few weeks. Nevertheless, I "respected" her as an adversary

  President Wayne Palmer : She never gave me a concrete reason why she resigned but there was "something". "Something" she wasn't telling me

  Tom Lennox : [while handing him a file folder]  this "may" have something to do with it. This is the draft of the Executive Order I presented this morning, Karen found out I was going to resubmit to you for your authorization

  President Wayne Palmer : So she quit? That makes absolutely no sense to me: she's never been afraid of a fight

  Tom Lennox : Maybe she finally realized her arguments were invalid and this is the only possible response to the dangers we're facing?

  President Wayne Palmer : Tell me why I would sign off on something I rejected six hours ago?

  Tom Lennox : Because Sir six hours ago, we didn't know Fayed had nukes

  President Wayne Palmer : Even so, you're talking about suspending Habeas corpus, expanding the length, and broadening the criteria for those detention centers. Those actions would constitute a brazen abuse of Executive Power

  Tom Lennox : Those actions would damage Fayed's network: limiting his ability to make use of these remaining nuclear weapons. Sir, Fayed's sole intention here is the destruction of our country, its infrastructure, social order, entire way of life, and he has the will and the means to make good on that threat

  President Wayne Palmer : Have you stopped to think about the fact that I will be forcing the people who elected me to give up their rights and freedoms defining the essence of this country?

  Tom Lennox : Sir, if one more nuke goes off, it will have been Fayed who redefined our country

  President Wayne Palmer : [Referring to Tom's Executive Order]  pass this out to the Cabinet, we'll reconvene in thirty minutes

• President Wayne Palmer : [Over the phone]  I just heard what happened to Walid, I am so sorry: is he going to be alright?

  Sandra Palmer : Yeah I think so

  President Wayne Palmer : But what they told me is confusing, they said Walid was working undercover to expose some "plot"?

  Sandra Palmer : There was no "plot", the men weren't part of any "conspiracy." They were just bystanders

  President Wayne Palmer : They told me these men had information on the nuclear weapons?

  Sandra Palmer : One of the men pulled it from the internet and showed it to his friends

  President Wayne Palmer : They should've reported that

  Sandra Palmer : They were afraid they were going to get into more trouble than their already in: most of these men were pulled from their jobs, their homes, on trumped up immigration charges and now their facing deportation. You are detaining them without due process, the people whose help you need the most. How do you expect them to "help" if they don't have any legal protection? I'm scared

  President Wayne Palmer : I know. Everything's going to be alright

• Vice President Noah Daniels : Congratulations this is an excellent plan

  Tom Lennox : Thank you very much Mr. Vice President

  Vice President Noah Daniels : It's about time someone in this Administration stood up to these people: to be honest, I didn't think this President had the stomach for this

  Tom Lennox : I think we're about ready here, I'm going to put you on speakerphone

  President Wayne Palmer : [while entering the room to meet with his Cabinet members]  is the Vice President with us?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : I'm here Mr. President

  President Wayne Palmer : I'm assuming everyone here has read Executive Order 1066? Tom first proposed this plan to me very early this morning and I rejected it: sacrificing the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution seem like too steep of a price, even for the "promise" of security but then Fayed murdered twelve thousand innocent Americans with a nuclear weapon, I felt compelled to "revisit" my earlier position. After careful reconsideration, I remain convinced that my initial response was in fact the right one. Implementing this plan would be a terrible mistake. Now I cannot and I will not endorse these actions. Some of you seem to feel that the Constitution is somehow valid only in times of peace but not during war time. That is not what the Founders intended

  Tom Lennox : With your indulgence Sir, George Washington's enemies wore bright red coats and marched in a straight line: the Founders could have never conceived a stateless enemy hiding among us that targets not only our soldiers but our civilization

  President Wayne Palmer : Your plan would only "hinder" the efforts of law enforcement to stop Fayed

  Tom Lennox : How does my plan "hinder" law enforcement Sir?

  President Wayne Palmer : By marginalizing and thereby radicalizing the very people's help they need to enlist. The American Muslim community is our best line of defense against these terrorists. We as Americans need to demonstrate that we are governed by the rule of law and never by the politics of fear

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Mr. President?

  President Wayne Palmer : Yes?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Before you make any unilateral decisions, maybe you should hear other people's thoughts?

  President Wayne Palmer : I'm sorry, the discussion on this matter is over