SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Sep. 30, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	May 31, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Jul. 31, 2012 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2013	Sep. 30, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2015	Sep. 30, 2012 3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	Sep. 30, 2012 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Sep. 30, 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	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured term loan due 2017	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured term loan due 2017	Sep. 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	Sep. 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	Sep. 30, 2012 4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	Dec. 31, 2011 4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	Sep. 30, 2012 4.25% senior notes due 2022	Feb. 29, 2012 4.25% senior notes due 2022	Dec. 31, 2011 4.25% senior notes due 2022	Sep. 30, 2012 3.25% senior notes due 2022	Aug. 31, 2012 3.25% senior notes due 2022	Dec. 31, 2011 3.25% senior notes due 2022	Sep. 30, 2012 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Dec. 31, 2011 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Sep. 30, 2012 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Dec. 31, 2011 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Sep. 30, 2012 Mortgage loans and other	Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgage loans and other
Debt instruments
Total	$ 7,264,105	$ 6,180,443	$ 704,770	$ 455,578	$ 0		$ 82,433	$ 0		$ 72,950	$ 0	$ 200,000	$ 269,850	$ 269,850	$ 131,509	$ 126,875	$ 400,000	$ 400,000	$ 234,420	$ 234,420	$ 0		$ 200,000	$ 375,000	$ 375,000	$ 0		$ 225,000	$ 600,000		$ 0	$ 700,000	$ 700,000	$ 600,000		$ 0	$ 275,000		$ 0	$ 52,400	$ 52,400	$ 22,973	$ 22,973	$ 2,898,183	$ 2,762,964
Interest rate (as a percent)					9.00%	9.00%	9.00%	8.25%	8.25%	8.25%			6.25%	6.25%			3.125%	3.125%	6.00%	6.00%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%			6.75%	6.75%	6.75%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.75%	4.75%	4.25%	4.25%	4.25%	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%	6.90%	6.90%	6.59%	6.59%
Capital lease obligations	142,565	143,006
Unamortized fair value adjustment	119,319	144,923
Unamortized commission fees and discounts	(31,215)	(39,256)
Senior notes payable and other debt	$ 7,494,774	$ 6,429,116