Note 5 - VIEs Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	$ 22,033			$ 22,033			$ 16,642
Other assets	395,454			395,454			377,647
Unearned premiums	781,660		712,706	781,660		712,706	768,871
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,749,435		2,716,490	1,749,435		2,716,490	2,185,421
Derivative liabilities	200,227		350,576	200,227		350,576	307,185
VIE debt—at fair value	93,631		106,767	93,631		106,767	94,645
Other liabilities	330,954			330,954			395,852
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	214,114		213,124	419,779		405,712
Net investment income	25,737		27,615	49,966		54,488
Net gains (losses) on investments	47,219		(130,254)	111,670		(135,759)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	57,477		86,535	107,563		(81,135)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(1,909)		1,188	(1,211)		(4,487)
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	69,343		140,291	124,152		272,350
Other operating expenses	65,551		60,981	125,460		141,081
Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	82,334			82,334			81,000
Other assets	90,551			90,551			92,023
Derivative liabilities	52,186			52,186			68,457
VIE debt—at fair value	90,394			90,394			91,800
Other liabilities	195			195			254
Maximum exposure (1)	133,572	[1]		133,572	[1]		121,628	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	0		0
Net investment income	885		888
Net gains (losses) on investments	450		(1,935)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	15,141		4,539
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	2,008		2,282
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)	0		0
Other operating expenses	884		995
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs	0		225
Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	0			0			0
Premiums receivable	1,995			1,995			2,211
Unearned premiums	1,528			1,528			1,872
Reserve for losses and LAE	10,170			10,170			14,094
Derivative liabilities	131,619			131,619			220,633
Other liabilities	0			0			0
Maximum exposure (1)	2,939,740	[1]		2,939,740	[1]		4,578,784	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned				627		611
Net investment income				0		0
Net gains (losses) on investments				0		0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)				88,737		(87,170)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments				0		0
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)				1,504		819
Other operating expenses				0		0
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs				$ (5,246)		$ 2,742

[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.