Note 5 - VIEs Put Options On CPS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities		Sep. 30, 2010 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities	Dec. 31, 2010 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities		Sep. 30, 2011 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities	Sep. 30, 2010 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities		Jun. 30, 2010 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities	Sep. 30, 2003 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Short-term Investments	$ 1,055,818,000		$ 1,055,818,000		$ 1,537,498,000	$ 150,000,000			$ 150,000,000
Maximum exposure (1)						150,000,000	[1]		150,000,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Net investment income	38,763,000	46,554,000	124,826,000	140,531,000		100,000		0			0	0	[2]
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	126,008,000	229,783,000	558,626,000	(372,777,000)		0		0			0	(6,300,000)
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	80,602,000	4,882,000	160,900,000	(159,882,000)		0		(23,500,000)			0	0
Other operating expenses	45,240,000	43,052,000	137,413,000	143,273,000		300,000		300,000			0	0
CPS Additional Disclosure
Number of Committed Preferred Custodial Trusts															3
Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities															150,000,000
Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities Held By Each Trust															50,000,000
Number Of Committed Preferred Custodial Trusts Not Consolidated Prior To The Second Quarter Of The Prior Year														1
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs						$ (100,000)		$ (78,400,000)			$ 0	$ (900,000)	[2]

[1] The maximum exposure is based on our carrying amounts of the investments.

[2] Activity displayed reflects the impact, for the periods prior to June 30, 2010, for one CPS custodial trust that was not consolidated prior to that date.