If you're talking about the center console (I'm guessing that from the comment about exposing the shifter, but it doesn't seem necessary to do what you are trying to do) there are 2 screws that you access by flipping up the armrest. Look down inside the storage area and you will see them. Once you unscrew those you just pull the whole center console backwards to disengage it from the dash.
I outlined the removal of that here with pictures: http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275809

Not sure how necessary that is to achieve your goal, but there it is anyway

 

Unfortunately this procedure removes the center arm rest up to and including the cup holders. What I need is to find a path for the USB cable from underneath the passenger front dash down inside the middle of the center consol up through the pen tray located up on top on the shifter bezel right by the seat warmer buttons. Keep in mind I have a 2010 so the shifter bezel is different pre 2009.

 

Question: I see a round cover plate holding down the side panel. If I remove this will the whole side cover then pop off and expose the shifter, pen tray etc... Anyone ever remove this panel?

are you referring to that 1-2" or so round cap on passenger side of shifter?
if thats it, then no, thats to access manual release of shifter
been a while since i did it, memory may be vague on details
remove handle to shifter, it just pulls up , pull up middle shifter panel (prndl)
should expose 2 screws for center bezel,
top panel cover needs to be removed to access additional screws,
think clips are 2 in the back from windshield side, and 1 center on forward side

if you want to remove shifter panel, dont need to in this case
2 screws at bottom of center console/cubby thingy in between the seats,
pull parking brake up and center pulls out from front first,

 

Just get your power cord behind the glove box and then remove your radio bezel and radio and fish it from there.
quite a bit of room back there...enough to install a dedicated power outlet pig tailed into the factory one and all covered up when you put radio and all back in place.