Note 6 - VIEs Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	$ 4,211,059,000		$ 4,562,821,000
Derivative Assets	17,212,000		26,212,000
Other Assets	333,566,000		323,320,000
Unearned premiums	637,372,000		686,364,000		823,621,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	3,310,902,000		3,596,735,000		3,578,982,000
Derivative liabilities	126,006,000		723,579,000		238,697,000
VIE debt	228,240,000		520,114,000		296,080,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	349,726,000		258,791,000
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	756,025,000		825,733,000		825,901,000
Net investment income	163,520,000		178,760,000		214,190,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments	202,177,000		139,944,000		257,141,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	628,395,000		(558,712,000)		99,958,000
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	193,329,000		(211,681,000)		(88,569,000)
Provision for losses, (decrease) increase	1,296,521,000		1,739,244,000		1,337,574,000
Other operating expenses	175,810,000		191,942,000		203,770,000
Consolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	94,500,000		83,200,000
Derivative Assets	0		0
Other Assets	105,900,000		112,400,000
Derivative liabilities	19,500,000		19,200,000
VIE debt	218,800,000		379,100,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	500,000		800,000
Maximum exposure (1)	580,000,000	[1]	584,600,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned					0
Net investment income	8,700,000		10,900,000		0
Gain (Loss) on Investments	14,700,000		0		0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	(10,700,000)		(14,500,000)		0
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	155,500,000		(143,500,000)		0
Provision for losses, (decrease) increase					0
Other operating expenses	3,100,000		3,500,000		0
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Number Of Consolidated CDO Of ABS Transactions	1
Number Of Consolidated Other Financial Guaranty Transactions	2
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	800,000		900,000		0
Unconsolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	4,100,000		6,000,000
Premiums receivable	3,600,000		5,200,000
Unearned premiums	3,800,000		6,000,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	7,900,000		15,000,000
Derivative liabilities	79,500,000		585,900,000
Maximum exposure (1)	6,126,300,000	[1]	6,874,200,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	2,600,000		2,800,000		3,500,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	511,200,000		(478,300,000)		0
Provision for losses, (decrease) increase	(6,000,000)		6,500,000		(4,400,000)
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Financial Guaranty Provided, Minimum Number Of V.I.E.s	1
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	$ 7,600,000		$ (32,100,000)		$ (2,800,000)

[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. The maximum exposure is based on the net par amount of our insured obligations as of the reporting date.