SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Jun. 30, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	May 31, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2013	Jun. 30, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2015	Jun. 30, 2012 3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	Jun. 30, 2012 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Jun. 30, 2012 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016	May 31, 2012 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016	Mar. 31, 2012 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016	Dec. 31, 2011 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2017	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2017	Jun. 30, 2012 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	May 31, 2012 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	Dec. 31, 2011 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	Jun. 30, 2012 4.00% senior notes due 2019	Apr. 30, 2012 4.00% senior notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2011 4.00% senior notes due 2019	Jun. 30, 2012 4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	Dec. 31, 2011 4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	Jun. 30, 2012 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Dec. 31, 2011 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Jun. 30, 2012 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Dec. 31, 2011 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Jun. 30, 2012 Mortgage loans and other	Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgage loans and other	Jun. 30, 2012 4.25% senior notes due 2022	May 31, 2012 4.25% senior notes due 2022	Feb. 29, 2012 4.25% senior notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Total	$ 6,960,719,000	$ 6,180,443,000	$ 366,991,000	$ 455,578,000			$ 82,433,000	$ 72,950,000	$ 72,950,000	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000	$ 269,850,000	$ 269,850,000	$ 127,378,000	$ 126,875,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 234,420,000	$ 234,420,000				$ 200,000,000	$ 375,000,000	$ 375,000,000			$ 225,000,000	$ 600,000,000			$ 700,000,000	$ 700,000,000	$ 52,400,000	$ 52,400,000	$ 22,973,000	$ 22,973,000	$ 2,938,757,000	$ 2,762,964,000	$ 600,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)					9.00%	9.00%	9.00%	8.25%	8.25%			6.25%	6.25%			3.125%	3.125%	6.00%	6.00%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%			6.75%	6.75%	6.75%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.75%	4.75%	6.90%	6.90%	6.59%	6.59%			4.25%	4.25%	4.25%
Capital lease obligations	142,716,000	143,006,000
Unamortized fair value adjustment	128,925,000	144,923,000
Unamortized commission fees and discounts	(27,633,000)	(39,256,000)
Senior notes payable and other debt	$ 7,204,727,000	$ 6,429,116,000