Note 6 - VIEs Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	$ 4,094,622,000		$ 4,211,059,000
Derivative Assets	13,609,000		17,212,000
Other Assets	374,662,000		333,566,000
Unearned premiums	648,682,000		637,372,000		686,364,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	3,149,936,000		3,310,902,000		3,596,735,000
Derivative liabilities	266,873,000		126,006,000		723,579,000
VIE debt - at fair value	108,858,000		228,240,000		520,114,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	325,270,000		349,726,000
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	738,982,000		756,025,000		825,733,000
Net investment income	114,337,000		163,520,000		178,760,000
(Loss) Gain on Investments	184,888,000		202,177,000		139,944,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	(144,025,000)		628,395,000		(558,712,000)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(82,269,000)		193,329,000		(211,681,000)
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	959,171,000		1,296,521,000		1,739,244,000
Other operating expenses	196,672,000		175,810,000		191,942,000
Consolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Trading Securities	78,006,000		94,521,000
Derivative Assets	0		0
Other Assets	99,337,000		105,885,000
Derivative liabilities	70,467,000		19,501,000
VIE debt - at fair value	98,983,000		218,790,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	365,000		530,000
Maximum exposure (1)	120,939,000	[1]	579,988,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned					0
Net investment income	3,362,000		8,696,000		10,927,000
(Loss) Gain on Investments	(1,205,000)		14,746,000		0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	1,189,000		(10,696,000)		(14,523,000)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(90,071,000)		155,507,000		(143,555,000)
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)					0
Other operating expenses	2,332,000		3,090,000		3,487,000
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	(134,509,000)		823,000		830,000
Unconsolidated Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	3,201,000		4,090,000
Premiums receivable	2,859,000		3,584,000
Unearned premiums	2,513,000		3,793,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	14,376,000		7,909,000
Derivative liabilities	175,781,000		79,473,000
Maximum exposure (1)	5,096,718,000	[1]	6,126,337,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	2,087,000		2,648,000		2,836,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	(168,255,000)		511,202,000		(478,285,000)
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	5,930,000		(6,015,000)		6,536,000
Financial Guaranty VIE Additional Disclosure
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	$ (68,990,000)		$ 7,620,000		$ (32,077,000)

[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, as applicable. For those VIEs that have recourse to our general credit, the maximum exposure is based on the net par amount of our insured obligation. For any VIEs that do not have recourse to our general credit, the maximum exposure is generally based on the recorded net assets of the VIE, as of the reporting date.