Note 5 - VIEs Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	$ 14,466			$ 16,642
Other assets	402,626			379,947
Unearned premiums	774,788		673,849	768,871
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,923,711		2,919,073	2,185,421
Derivative liabilities	257,717		430,898	307,185
VIE debt—at fair value	95,580		107,401	94,645
Other liabilities	392,216			395,852
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	205,665		192,588
Net investment income	24,229		26,873
Net gains (losses) on investments	64,451		(5,505)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	50,086		(167,670)
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	698		(5,675)
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	54,809		132,059
Other operating expenses	59,909		80,100
Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	81,635			81,000
Other assets	92,594			92,023
Derivative liabilities	47,769			68,457
VIE debt—at fair value	92,436			91,800
Other liabilities	190			254
Maximum exposure (1)	140,242	[1]		121,628	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	0		0
Net investment income	440		443
Net gains (losses) on investments	195		(1,530)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	20,117		3,062
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	1,016		1,155
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	0		0
Other operating expenses	447		503
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	0		114
Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	0			0
Premiums receivable	2,100			2,211
Unearned premiums	1,680			1,872
Reserve for losses and LAE	9,505			14,094
Derivative liabilities	191,945			220,633
Other liabilities	0			0
Maximum exposure (1)	4,079,740	[1]		4,578,784	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	314		324
Net investment income	0		0
Net gains (losses) on investments	0		0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	29,621		(160,975)
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	0		0
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	894		(10)
Other operating expenses	0		0
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	$ (4,356)		$ 1,215

[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.