It can't be January, because Palmer took the oath of office 'three months ago.' It's therefore April 2012. And this is old news.

http://www.freewebs.com/endoftheworldparty2012

I'm having a party at that date. END OF THE WORLD FTW

This does explain the six-presidents-in-six-seasons issue. Not a good era to be sitting in the Oval Office.

http://off-centred.blogspot.com/2007/01/24s-atomic-clock-still-ticking.html

"In fact, while 24 is, ironically, a show about literally counting down the minutes of a single day"

What is ironic about that, or are you just bring ironic by saying it's ironic?

so maybe their gearing up for the next season to be the last and it's going to take place Dec. 20 2012 and will explain how existence is going to end the next day.

If thats the case, maybe I'll watch

"though the program doesn't strike me as futuristic, ..."

It is set 5yrs from now, what did you expect?
For instance is there really a big difference between 2007 and 2002? Although with your mention of the cell phone I guess we can say goodbye to dropped calls by 2012 and they will work anywhere.

Maybe it's just me, but I would love to see Jack on a spaceship taking on Klingons and Romulans as the clock runs down.

It's probably just me.