Consolidated Balance Sheets Statement (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Investments
Fixed-maturities held to maturity—at amortized cost (fair value $2,748 and $11,416)	$ 2,640	$ 10,773
Fixed-maturities available for sale at fair value (amortized cost $120,757 and $340,795)	118,733	273,799
Equity securities available for sale—at fair value (cost $114,425 and $160,242)	128,424	184,365
Trading securities—at fair value (including variable interest entity (“VIE”) securities of $94,521 and $83,184)	4,211,059	4,562,821
Short-term investments at fair value (including VIE investments of $149,981 and $149,981)	1,261,703	1,537,498
Other invested assets—at cost	61,000	59,627
Total investments	5,783,559	6,628,883
Cash	35,589	20,334
Restricted cash	27,020	31,413
Deferred policy acquisition costs	139,906	148,326
Accrued investment income	32,262	40,498
Accounts and notes receivable (less allowance of $0 and $50,000)	102,647	116,452
Property and equipment, at cost (less accumulated depreciation of $96,403 and $92,451)	11,044	13,024
Derivative assets (including VIE derivative assets of $1,602 and $10,855)	17,212	26,212
Deferred income taxes, net	15,975	27,531
Reinsurance recoverables	157,985	244,894
Other assets (including VIE other assets of $105,903 and $112,426)	333,566	323,320
Total assets	6,656,765	7,620,887
Liabilities
Unearned premiums	637,372	686,364
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”)	3,310,902	3,596,735
Reserve for premium deficiency	3,644	10,736
Long-term debt	818,584	964,788
VIE debt—at fair value (including $0 and $9,514 of non-recourse debt)	228,240	520,114
Derivative liabilities (including VIE derivative liabilities of $19,501 and $19,226)	126,006	723,579
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (including VIE accounts payable of $530 and $837)	349,726	258,791
Total liabilities	5,474,474	6,761,107
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock: par value $.001 per share; 325,000,000 shares authorized; 150,666,446 and 150,507,853 shares issued at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, repectively; 133,199,159 and 133,049,213 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	151	150
Treasury stock, at cost: 17,467,287 and 17,458,640 shares at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	(892,052)	(892,012)
Additional paid-in capital	1,966,565	1,963,092
Retained earnings (deficit)	96,227	(204,926)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	11,400	(6,524)
Total stockholders’ equity	1,182,291	859,780
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 6,656,765	$ 7,620,887