Note 5 - Variable Interest Entities Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts VIEs (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Derivative Assets	$ 24,213			$ 24,213			$ 16,642
Other assets	392,789			392,789			377,647
Unearned premiums	796,742		751,587	796,742		751,587	768,871
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,620,351		2,346,879	1,620,351		2,346,879	2,185,421
Derivative liabilities	185,258		344,870	185,258		344,870	307,185
VIE debt—at fair value	91,232		104,218	91,232		104,218	94,645
Other liabilities	330,638			330,638			395,852
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned	227,156		211,984	646,935		617,696
Net investment income	26,178		26,732	76,144		81,220
Net (losses) gains on investments	(7,839)		(7,132)	103,831		(142,891)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	19,360		10,778	126,923		(70,357)
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	982		902	(229)		(3,585)
Other operating expenses	56,262		70,974	181,722		212,055
Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	82,502			82,502			81,000
Derivative Assets	0			0			0
Premiums receivable	0			0			0
Other assets	88,219			88,219			92,023
Unearned premiums	0			0			0
Reserve for losses and LAE	0			0			0
Derivative liabilities	46,653			46,653			68,457
VIE debt—at fair value	88,036			88,036			91,800
Other liabilities	221			221			254
Maximum exposure (1)	136,593	[1]		136,593	[1]		121,628	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned				0		0
Net investment income				1,338		1,338
Net (losses) gains on investments				165		405
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)				20,124		513
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments				2,976		3,377
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)				0		0
Other operating expenses				1,303		1,469
Net cash (outflow) inflow for VIEs				(34)		333
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
Derivative Assets	0			0			0
Premiums receivable	1,890			1,890			2,211
Other assets	0			0			0
Unearned premiums	1,432			1,432			1,872
Reserve for losses and LAE	10,878			10,878			14,094
Derivative liabilities	121,745			121,745			220,633
VIE debt—at fair value	0			0			0
Other liabilities	0			0			0
Maximum exposure (1)	2,699,248	[1]		2,699,248	[1]		4,578,784	[1]
Statement of Operations
Premiums earned				921		872
Net investment income				0		0
Net (losses) gains on investments				0		0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)				101,110		(82,069)
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments				0		0
Provision for losses, increase (decrease)				2,261		(208)
Other operating expenses				0		0
Net cash (outflow) inflow for VIEs				$ (2,493)		$ 4,133

[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.