Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 contract
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	269
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	19 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	$ 1,444,060
Interest	735,716
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,179,776
Gross claim liability	261,676
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	316,161
Discount, Net	(98,362)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	43,877
Unearned premium revenue	26,027
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	30,538
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Performing
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	6
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	22 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	1,721
Interest	156
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,877
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	5
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	106
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	18 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	707,897
Interest	382,859
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,090,756
Gross claim liability	20,305
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	6,744
Discount, Net	699
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	12,862
Unearned premium revenue	15,298
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	6,398
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Intensified Surveillance
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	72
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	20 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	622,049
Interest	322,434
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	944,483
Gross claim liability	206,597
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	254,152
Discount, Net	(97,106)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	49,551
Unearned premium revenue	10,724
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	42,677
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Case Reserve
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	85
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	19 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	112,393
Interest	30,267
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	142,660
Gross claim liability	34,773
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	55,265
Discount, Net	(1,955)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	(18,537)
Unearned premium revenue	0
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	(18,537)
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 0