Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Rollforward of Level III Assets and Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Derivative liabilities net [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Liabilities	$ 187,700,000		$ 472,200,000		$ 110,600,000		$ 709,100,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings Level III Liabilities	(33,100,000)	[1]	188,300,000	[2]	(105,900,000)	[3]	433,000,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Liabilities	13,300,000		(7,600,000)		9,000,000		(15,400,000)
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Liabilities	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Liabilities	207,500,000		291,500,000		207,500,000		291,500,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recorded in Earnings on Level III Liabilities Still Held	(56,800,000)		173,400,000		(140,200,000)		399,100,000
VIE debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Liabilities	255,200,000		373,000,000		228,200,000		520,100,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings Level III Liabilities	(68,400,000)	[1]	(44,000,000)	[2]	(104,400,000)	[3]	28,900,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Liabilities	215,800,000	[6]	23,300,000		224,800,000	[6]	97,500,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Liabilities	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Liabilities	107,800,000		393,700,000		107,800,000		393,700,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recorded in Earnings on Level III Liabilities Still Held	(3,800,000)		(9,800,000)		(4,900,000)		(17,100,000)
Total Level III liabilities net [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Liabilities	442,900,000		845,200,000		338,800,000		1,229,200,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings Level III Liabilities	(101,500,000)	[1]	144,300,000	[2]	(210,300,000)	[3]	461,900,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Liabilities	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Liabilities	229,100,000		15,700,000		233,800,000		82,100,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Liabilities	0	[5]	0	[7]	0	[5]	0	[7]
Ending Balance Level III Liabilities	315,300,000		685,200,000		315,300,000		685,200,000
State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	58,100,000		23,200,000		62,500,000		23,200,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	(10,700,000)	[1]	400,000	[2]	(4,000,000)	[3]	400,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	0		0		11,100,000		0
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	(27,800,000)	[5]	0	[5]	(27,800,000)	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	19,600,000		23,600,000		19,600,000		23,600,000
RMBS | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	51,200,000		55,300,000		45,500,000		52,500,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	(100,000)	[1]	7,600,000	[2]	6,100,000	[3]	11,600,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		1,600,000		0		1,600,000
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	51,100,000		(100,000)		51,600,000		1,100,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	0		61,400,000		0		61,400,000
CMBS | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	24,000,000		24,000,000		35,400,000		23,000,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	0	[1]	5,400,000	[2]	(11,400,000)	[3]	6,400,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	24,000,000		0		24,000,000		0
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	0		29,400,000		0		29,400,000
CDO | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	6,400,000		4,100,000		5,500,000		2,400,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	0	[1]	(300,000)	[2]	800,000	[3]	1,300,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		(100,000)		0		(100,000)
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	6,400,000		0		6,300,000		(100,000)
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	0		3,900,000		0		3,900,000
Other ABS | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	3,700,000		4,700,000		2,900,000		3,300,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	0	[1]	(2,700,000)	[2]	800,000	[3]	(1,300,000)	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	5,200,000		0		5,200,000		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	4,100,000		0		4,100,000		0
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	4,800,000		2,000,000		4,800,000		2,000,000
Hybrid securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	200,000		0		4,800,000		0
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	0	[1]	600,000	[2]	100,000	[3]	(100,000)	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	100,000		0		100,000		700,000
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		4,900,000		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	(300,000)	[5]	(600,000)	[5]	(100,000)	[5]	(600,000)	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Equity securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	2,100,000		4,300,000		800,000		2,900,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	(100,000)	[1]	(700,000)	[2]	500,000	[3]	(300,000)	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		2,100,000		0		3,200,000
Sales Level III Assets	0		100,000		0		200,000
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	700,000	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	2,000,000		5,600,000		2,000,000		5,600,000
Other investments | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	7,100,000		3,900,000		6,800,000		4,600,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	400,000	[1]	1,900,000	[2]	1,200,000	[3]	2,000,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	75,000,000		0		75,000,000		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		500,000		500,000
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0				0
Settlements Level III Assets	6,000,000		0		6,000,000		300,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	76,500,000		5,800,000		76,500,000		5,800,000
Investments
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Fair Value, Transfers Between Level 1 And Level 2, Amount					0		0
Investments | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	152,800,000		119,500,000		164,200,000		111,900,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	(10,500,000)	[1]	12,200,000	[2]	(5,900,000)	[3]	20,000,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	80,300,000		2,100,000		80,300,000		3,900,000
Sales Level III Assets	0		1,600,000		5,400,000		2,200,000
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	91,600,000		(100,000)		103,100,000		1,300,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	(28,100,000)	[5]	(600,000)	[7]	(27,200,000)	[5]	(600,000)	[7]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	102,900,000		131,700,000		102,900,000		131,700,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recorded in Earnings on Level III Assets Still Held	400,000		10,600,000		1,000,000		18,100,000
NIMS derivative assets | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	1,700,000		9,000,000		1,600,000		11,700,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	0	[1]	400,000	[2]	0	[3]	(2,000,000)	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		100,000		100,000
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	0		4,700,000		0		4,700,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	(400,000)	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	1,700,000		4,700,000		1,700,000		4,700,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recorded in Earnings on Level III Assets Still Held			(1,500,000)				(2,100,000)
Other assets | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	101,300,000		106,300,000		104,000,000		109,700,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	5,900,000	[1]	14,400,000	[2]	9,300,000	[3]	18,300,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Sales Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	6,500,000		7,000,000		12,600,000		14,300,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	100,700,000		113,700,000		100,700,000		113,700,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recorded in Earnings on Level III Assets Still Held	3,200,000		11,200,000		3,800,000		12,000,000
Total Level III Assets | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value Level III Assets and Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance Level III Assets	255,800,000		234,800,000		269,800,000		233,300,000
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Level III Assets Included in Earnings	(4,600,000)	[1]	27,000,000	[2]	3,400,000	[3]	36,300,000	[4]
Purchases Level III Assets	80,300,000		2,100,000		80,400,000		4,000,000
Sales Level III Assets	0		1,600,000		5,400,000		2,200,000
Issuances Level III Assets	0		0		0		0
Settlements Level III Assets	98,100,000		11,600,000		115,700,000		20,300,000
Transfers Into (Out of) Level III Assets	(28,100,000)	[5]	(600,000)	[7]	(27,200,000)	[5]	(1,000,000)	[7]
Ending Balance Level III Assets	$ 205,300,000		$ 250,100,000		$ 205,300,000		$ 250,100,000

[1] Includes unrealized gains (losses) for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012, as follows: $0.4 million for investments, $3.2 million for other assets, $(56.8) million for derivative liabilities, and $(3.8) million for VIE debt.

[2] Includes unrealized gains (losses) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011, as follows: $10.6 million for investments, $(1.5) million for NIMS derivative assets, $11.2 million for other assets, $173.4 million for derivative liabilities, and $(9.8) million for VIE debt.

[3] Includes unrealized gains (losses) for the six months ended June 30, 2012, relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2012, as follows: $1.0 million for investments, $3.8 million for other assets, $(140.2) million for derivative liabilities, and $(4.9) million for VIE debt.

[4] Includes unrealized gains (losses) for the six months ended June 30, 2011, relating to assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2011, as follows: $18.1 million for investments, $(2.1) million for NIMS derivative assets, $12.0 million for other assets, $399.1 million for derivative liabilities, and $(17.1) million for VIE debt.

[5] Transfers are recognized at the end of the period as the availability of market observed inputs change from period to period. During the period pricing from a third-party pricing source became available for one bond, accounting for a majority of the transfer out of Level III and into Level II.

[6] Primarily represents the settlement of our CDO of ABS.

[7] Transfers are recognized at the end of the period as the availability of market observed inputs change from period to period.