Note 1 - Interim Financial Statements (Detail) - Earnings Per Share (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Income from continuing operations	$ 67,388		$ 54,596
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax	540
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,738)		(5,510)
Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)		2,242
Preferred stock dividends	(14,573)		(15,574)
Income from continuing operations available to the common shareholders	50,605		35,754
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares	(390)		(338)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	50,215		35,416
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	2,592		2,310
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share	52,807		37,726
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	406,662		406,272
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.12		$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.09
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	50,215		35,416
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share	$ 52,807		$ 37,726
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in Shares)	406,662		406,272
Effect of dilutive securities (a):
Equity awards (in Shares)	1,004	[1]	1,007	[1]
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in Shares)	407,666		407,279
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.12		$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.09

[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 12,295,607 and 14,520,258 stock options that were not dilutive at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.