Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers	$ (5,961)	$ 148,195	$ 318,175	$ 351,478
Total revenues before expenses and reorganization items	(5,961)	148,195	318,175	351,478
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations:
Unaffiliated customers	(813,561)	(101,876)	(559,939)	(918,772)
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations	(813,561)	(101,876)	(559,939)	(918,772)
Assets	26,611,791	27,410,304	26,611,791	27,410,304	27,113,695
Assets		27,940,429		27,940,429
Financial Guarantee [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers	87,665	203,089	357,492	378,100
Intersegment	1,397	1,407	2,896	24,086
Total revenues before expenses and reorganization items	89,062	204,496	360,388	402,186
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations:
Unaffiliated customers	(717,187)	(34,791)	(510,900)	(849,872)
Intersegment	-712	341	315	21631
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations	(717,899)	(34,450)	(510,585)	(828,241)
Assets	25,771,887	25,895,317	25,771,887	25,895,317
Assets		26,588,040		26,588,040
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers	(93,682)	(54,966)	(39,430)	(26,771)
Intersegment	(1,346)	(1,336)	(2,789)	(23,941)
Total revenues before expenses and reorganization items	(95,028)	(56,302)	(42,219)	(50,712)
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations:
Unaffiliated customers	(96,257)	(59,697)	(44,587)	(36,307)
Intersegment	-429	-328	-1784	-22154
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations	(96,686)	(60,025)	(46,371)	(58,461)
Assets	800,677	1,447,059	800,677	1,447,059
Assets		1,291,736		1,291,736
Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers	56	72	113	149
Intersegment			645
Total revenues before expenses and reorganization items	56	72	758	149
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations:
Unaffiliated customers	(117)	(7,388)	(4,452)	(32,593)
Intersegment	1141	157	1469	693
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations	1,024	(7,231)	(2,983)	(31,900)
Assets	39,227	67,928	39,227	67,928
Assets		60,653		60,653
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Intersegment	(51)	(71)	(752)	(145)
Total revenues before expenses and reorganization items	(51)	(71)	(752)	(145)
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations:
Intersegment		-170		-170
Pre-tax loss from continuing operations		$ (170)		$ (170)