Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 policy
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	366
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	17 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	$ 1,825,092
Interest	999,585
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	2,824,677
Gross claim liability	277,598
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	380,737
Discount, Net	(146,404)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	43,265
Unearned premium revenue	29,724
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	27,815
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	1,513
Interest	172
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,685
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	221
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	16 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	1,162,520
Interest	671,500
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	1,834,020
Gross claim liability	22,047
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	2,364
Discount, Net	3,343
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	16,340
Unearned premium revenue	20,513
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	6,453
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Intensified Surveillance
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	56
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	19 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	581,107
Interest	306,299
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	887,406
Gross claim liability	229,993
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	334,298
Discount, Net	(147,419)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	43,114
Unearned premium revenue	9,205
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	37,552
Reinsurance recoverable	0
Case Reserve
Financial Guaranty Claim Liabilities by Surveillance Categories
Number of policies	82
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)	18 years
Insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal	79,952
Interest	21,614
Total insured contractual payments outstanding	101,566
Gross claim liability	25,557
Reductions of gross claim liability:
Gross potential recoveries	44,075
Discount, Net	(2,328)
Net claim liability/(asset) (prior to reduction for unearned premium)	(16,190)
Unearned premium revenue	0
Net claim liability/(asset) reported in the balance sheet	(16,190)
Reinsurance recoverable	$ 0