Earl! Earl! Earl! He’s headed our way to ruin the Labor Day weekend. (Or, maybe not).

A NY Times poll found, as previous public polls reported, that some two-thirds of New Yorkers want the mosque and Islamic center proposed for construction new Ground Zero moved to a different location.

An Egyptian-born businessman from Long Island who provided much of the $4.8 million needed to buy the building that will be demolished to make way for the mosque has a controversial history.

The Times says it’s “appalling to see New Yorkers who could lead us all away from mosque madness, who should know better, playing to people’s worst instincts” – and calls out Rudy Giuliani, Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino for doing just that.

The Syracuse Post-Standard supports AG Andrew Cuomo’s decision not to heed calls to investigate the mosque’s funding – such as it is.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver owns stock in 30 companies with business before the state, including Pepsi, Verizon and Cisco Systems, raising concerns about conflicts of interest from good government groups.

An ad that promotes Hillary Clinton for president in 2012 started running in New Orleans. It’s paid for by a dentist in Barack Obama’s hometown of Chicago and will also run here, in Washington, LA and maybe Houston.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is the latest Democrat scheduled to endorse Gustavo Rivera against Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. (Noon at WWRL’s studios; no link).

“You’ve got to believe he’s the favorite, and if you don’t, you’re underestimating a guy who should not be underestimated,” said Democratic consultant Scott Levenson of Espada.

Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson defends his rocky first session, insisting dysfunction existed before his party took the majority (which he’ll be happy to keep even by just one seat).

Dave Mejias’ arrest might have tanked the Democrats’ chances of maintaining control of the chamber.

Mejias’ primary opponent called the allegations against him “shocking,” and says he should end his campaign if they’re true.

Even if Mejias does withdraw, his name will remain on the primary ballot.

Giuliani endorsed John Gomez against Democratic Rep. Steve Israel in NY-2 and will headline a fundraiser for him on Sept. 30.

Coming soon to a TV near you: “Giuliani’s 9/11.”

Young voters are no longer swooning over Obama. In fact, fewer of them see themselves as Democrats at all.

Adam Lisberg dismisses speculation that Mayor Bloomberg wants a role in the Obama administration, noting the billionaire mayor doesn’t do No. 2 so well.

Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice requested that a special prosecutor handle the Dave Mejias case due to a “personal relationship” that exists between the DA, her family and the victim. (He’s due back in court on Sept. 16).

AG hopeful Eric Dinallo, who was taunted as “Porky Pig” as a child for his stuttering, sees the office he’s seeking as a “great leveler.”

Gov. David Paterson insists the state is right to try to collect sales tax on cigarettes sold to non-Indians on Indian land, no matter what the Indians and the courts say.

Newsday agrees.

Paladino had some tough words for the Seneca.

The Post wonders if there’s something in the water in Queens, which is ground zero for political scandal at the moment.

Lazio leads Paladino by 12 percentage points heading into the GOP primary, but his lead is “shaky,” according to a new Q poll.

Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, a one-time GOP kingmaker, won’t be endorsing either Lazio or Paladino prior to Sept. 14.

The NYLCV plans to spend up to $25,000 to try to “Sack Stach.”

NY-13 congressional hopeful Michael Grimm’s military service record, revealed.

Mandatory pension contributions are poised to jump 37 percent – not good news as state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli runs statewide for the first time.

The comptroller’s own Website offers tips on how to “maximize” your pension, which sounds an awful lot like padding.

Some Harlem voters wish they had “better options” than to pick between Rep. Charlie Rangel and his top primary challenger, Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV.

A GOP political appointee in Nassau County forgot to include her own party in flyers sent out about the new electronic voting machines.

Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy (NY-20) says he’s raised $325,000 since July, outpacing his GOP challenger, Chris Gibson.

A Gibson rally that was supposed to take place on Rogers Island was hastily relocated after questions were raised about the publicly-funded site.

The NY-24 opponents, Rep. Mike Arcuri and Richard Hanna, have some nuanced differences on Social Security.

The three Republicans vying to replace retiring Sen. Dale Volker in the 59th SD debated over character last night.

Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye OpEds about how to best keep kids out of jail.

Some sponsors of a lavish upcoming event at the Greenwich Polo Club said they had no idea it was a fundraiser for Assemblyman Greg Ball’s Senate campaign.

From former president to take-out order man.

A former Niagara Falls mayor is going to prison.

Condoleezza Rice will speak at Hamilton College.

Urban skunks!

The real scourge of NYC: Typos.

Faux pas of the first order.

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