Note 5 - VIEs Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	$ 4,145,380,000			$ 4,145,380,000			$ 4,211,059,000
Derivative Assets	14,857,000			14,857,000			17,212,000
Other Assets	353,945,000			353,945,000			314,864,000
Unearned premiums	614,455,000			614,455,000			637,372,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	3,119,597,000			3,119,597,000			3,310,902,000
Derivative liabilities	267,323,000			267,323,000			126,006,000
VIE debt	109,651,000			109,651,000			228,240,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	350,810,000			350,810,000			349,726,000
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	190,963,000		179,655,000	545,107,000		571,612,000
Net investment income	25,635,000		38,763,000	91,225,000		124,826,000
Net gains (losses) on investments	84,659,000		81,640,000	178,537,000		163,311,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(41,056,000)		126,008,000	(146,937,000)		558,626,000
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(740,000)		80,602,000	(80,454,000)		160,900,000
Provision for losses, (decrease) increase	176,352,000		249,598,000	653,374,000		940,537,000
Other operating expenses	50,429,000		45,240,000	140,776,000		137,413,000
Consolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	0			0			94,500,000
Other invested assets	75,600,000			75,600,000			0
Other Assets	100,600,000			100,600,000			105,900,000
Derivative liabilities	71,100,000			71,100,000			19,500,000
VIE debt	100,200,000			100,200,000			218,800,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	400,000			400,000			500,000
Maximum exposure (1)	128,300,000	[1]		128,300,000	[1]		580,000,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Net investment income				2,900,000		6,200,000
Net gains (losses) on investments				(3,100,000)		19,300,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments				1,300,000		(9,400,000)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments				(91,300,000)		124,000,000
Other operating expenses				1,800,000		2,300,000
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Number Of Consolidated Other Financial Guaranty Transactions	2			2
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs				(134,600,000)		600,000
Unconsolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	3,200,000			3,200,000			4,100,000
Premiums receivable	3,000,000			3,000,000			3,600,000
Other Assets	0			0
Unearned premiums	3,100,000			3,100,000			3,800,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	14,400,000			14,400,000			7,900,000
Derivative liabilities	172,700,000			172,700,000			79,500,000
Maximum exposure (1)	5,188,900,000	[1]		5,188,900,000	[1]		6,126,300,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned				1,300,000		2,200,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments				(166,400,000)		457,300,000
Provision for losses, (decrease) increase				5,900,000		(3,100,000)
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs				$ (70,500,000)		$ 6,300,000

[1] The difference between the carrying amounts of the net asset/liability position and maximum exposure related to VIEs is primarily due to the difference between the face amount of the obligation and the recorded fair values, which include an adjustment for our non-performance risk, as applicable. For those VIEs that have recourse to our general credit, the maximum exposure is based on the net par amount of our insured obligation. For any VIEs that do not have recourse to our general credit, the maximum exposure is generally based on the recorded net assets of the VIE, as of the reporting date.