Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 contract
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	282
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	19 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	$ 1,599,134
Interest	820,187
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,419,321
Gross claim liability	334,641
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	362,422
Discount, Net	(64,599)
Net claim liability (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	36,818
Unearned premium revenue	28,734
Net claim liability reported in the balance sheet	22,468
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Performing
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	7
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	21 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	2,148
Interest	195
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,343
Gross claim liability	1
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	0
Discount, Net	0
Net claim liability (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	1
Unearned premium revenue	7
Net claim liability reported in the balance sheet	0
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Special Mention
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	120
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	18 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	821,654
Interest	431,399
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,253,053
Gross claim liability	22,169
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	7,588
Discount, Net	353
Net claim liability (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	14,228
Unearned premium revenue	16,980
Net claim liability reported in the balance sheet	6,853
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Intensified Surveillance
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	70
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	20 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	652,191
Interest	356,182
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,008,373
Gross claim liability	264,492
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	286,068
Discount, Net	(66,397)
Net claim liability (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	44,821
Unearned premium revenue	11,747
Net claim liability reported in the balance sheet	37,847
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Case Reserve
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	85
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	25 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	123,141
Interest	32,411
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	155,552
Gross claim liability	47,979
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	68,766
Discount, Net	1,445
Net claim liability (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	(22,232)
Unearned premium revenue	0
Net claim liability reported in the balance sheet	(22,232)
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 0