Note 1 - Interim Financial Statements (Detail) - Earnings Per Share (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Income from continuing operations	$ 47,625		$ 48,669		$ 167,549		$ 118,607
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax					4,059
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,143)		(3,612)		(10,928)		(9,277)
Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(886)		(25)		1,365		202
Redemption costs	(6,213)				(6,213)
Preferred stock dividends	(21,622)		(14,841)		(58,037)		(44,522)
Income from continuing operations available to the common shareholders	16,761		30,191		97,795		65,010
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares	(298)		(150)		(893)		(450)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	16,463		30,041		96,902		64,560
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	10,345		9,949		15,647		13,122
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share	26,808		39,990		112,549		77,682
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	405,810		406,564		405,880		406,521
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ 0.07		$ 0.24		$ 0.16
Income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.03		$ 0.03		$ 0.04		$ 0.03
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.07		$ 0.10		$ 0.28		$ 0.19
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	16,463		30,041		96,902		64,560
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	10,345		9,949		15,647		13,122
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share	$ 26,808		$ 39,990		$ 112,549		$ 77,682
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in Shares)	405,810		406,564		405,880		406,521
Effect of dilutive securities (a):
Equity awards (in Shares)	937	[1]	728	[1]	770	[1]	865	[1]
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in Shares)	406,747		407,292		406,650		407,386
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ 0.07		$ 0.24		$ 0.16
Income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.03		$ 0.03		$ 0.04		$ 0.03
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.07		$ 0.10		$ 0.28		$ 0.19

[1] For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the effect of certain convertible units would have an anti-dilutive effect upon the calculation of Income from continuing operations per share. Accordingly, the impact of such conversion has not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share calculations. Additionally, there were 11,205,056 and 13,552,139 stock options that were not dilutive at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.