Indebtedness - Debt Outstanding (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank debt	$ 461,000	$ 187,000
Subordinated debt	2,388,869	1,787,967
Total debt	2,849,869	1,974,967
7.50% Senior Subordinated notes due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	250,000	250,000
7.25% Senior Subordinated notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	250,000	250,000
8.00% Senior Subordinated notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	288,869	287,967
6.75% Senior Subordinated notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	500,000	500,000
5.75% Senior Subordinated notes due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	500,000	500,000
5.00% Senior Subordinated notes due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated debt	$ 600,000

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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