Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Financial Guaranty Segment [Member]
Claim liability at beginning of period	$ 60,500,000	$ 67,400,000
Increase in gross claim liability	187,100,000	19,300,000
Increase in gross potential recoveries	301,600,000	3,200,000
Decrease (increase) in discount	146,600,000	(3,300,000)
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	(700,000)	600,000
Incurred losses and LAE	31,400,000	13,400,000
Paid Losses and LAE Current Year	0	0
Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years	8,900,000	200,000
Paid losses and LAE	8,900,000	200,000
Claim liability at end of period	83,000,000	80,600,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Claim liability established in current period	0	0
Changes in existing claim liabilities	31,400,000	13,400,000
Total incurred losses and LAE	31,400,000	13,400,000
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period	150,600,000	(100,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilites	(4,000,000)	(3,200,000)
Total decrease (increase) in discount	146,600,000	(3,300,000)
Project Finance Credit [Member]
Net Par Outstanding	$ 69,000,000