Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 contract
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	274
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	19 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	$ 1,543,616
Interest	787,898
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,331,514
Gross claim liability	294,520
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	330,931
Discount, Net	(74,288)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	37,877
Unearned premium revenue	27,554
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	23,611
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Performing
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	7
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	22 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	1,832
Interest	174
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,006
Gross claim liability	1
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	0
Discount, Net	0
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	1
Unearned premium revenue	6
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	0
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Special Mention
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	109
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	18 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	765,880
Interest	406,064
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,171,944
Gross claim liability	21,782
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	7,145
Discount, Net	517
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	14,120
Unearned premium revenue	16,011
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	6,917
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Intensified Surveillance
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	74
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	20 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	655,340
Interest	348,958
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,004,298
Gross claim liability	232,253
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	261,755
Discount, Net	(77,874)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	48,372
Unearned premium revenue	11,537
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	41,310
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Case Reserve
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	84
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	18 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	120,564
Interest	32,702
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	153,266
Gross claim liability	40,484
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	62,031
Discount, Net	3,069
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	(24,616)
Unearned premium revenue	0
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	(24,616)
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 0