Jay,
[snip]
  
We all know that you cannot do something like this;
sum(if(substring(updated, 1, 10) = curdate(), 1, 0)) AS curdate()
nor can you use user variables even though they get set properly
set @d1 = curdate();
sum(if(substring(updated, 1, 10) = curdate(), 1, 0)) AS @d1
So, does anyone know of a work around? 
    
How about PREPARE?
[/snip]

PREPARE treats SELECT statements the same, unless I am missing
something. I have done some testing, and have been able to obtain the
desired results. Even the simplest example;

PREPARE stmt1 FROM 'SELECT curdate() AS ?';
SET @a = curdate();
EXECUTE stmt1 USING @a;

Gives a syntax error on the PREPARE statement since AS cannot be a
function. Perhaps there is something to a prepare that I should be more
aware of?
SET @sql=CONCAT('SELECT SUM(IF(SUBSTRING(updated,1,10)=CURDATE(), 1, 0)) AS ',
                char(39),
                CURDATE(),
                CHAR(39),
                ' FROM tablename GROUP BY group by psDealer' );
PREPARE stmt FROM @sql;

PB

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