Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Reconciliation of Earnings/(Loss) and the Weighted Average Number of Shares (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 10, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of Earnings/(Loss) and the Weighted Average Number of Shares [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations											$ 261,683		$ 210,073		$ 141,416
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax											1,432		4,299		108
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests											(5,072)		(14,202)		(13,039)
Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests											(8,301)		3,133		2,799
Preferred stock redemption costs	(15,500)	(6,200)											(21,703)
Preferred stock dividends											(58,294)		(71,697)		(59,363)
Income from continuing operations available to the common Shareholders											191,448		109,903		71,921
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares											(1,360)		(1,221)		(608)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common Shareholders											190,088		108,682		71,313
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations attributable to the Company											(13,461)		62,770		37,767
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share											176,627		171,452		109,080
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)											407,631		405,997		406,530
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)											$ 0.47		$ 0.27		$ 0.18
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)											$ (0.04)		$ 0.15		$ 0.09
Net income (in Dollars per share)			$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.12	$ 0.09	$ 0.43		$ 0.42		$ 0.27
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders											190,088		108,682		71,313
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations attributable to the Company											(13,461)		62,770		37,767
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share											$ 176,627		$ 171,452		$ 109,080
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in Shares)											407,631		405,997		406,530
Equity awards (in Shares)											983	[1]	692	[1]	1,139	[1]
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in Shares)											408,614		406,689		407,669
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)											$ 0.47		$ 0.27		$ 0.18
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)											$ (0.04)		$ 0.15		$ 0.09
Net income (in Dollars per share)			$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.12	$ 0.09	$ 0.43		$ 0.42		$ 0.27

[1] The effect of the assumed conversion of certain convertible units had an anti-dilutive effect upon the calculation of Income from continuing operations per share. Accordingly, the impact of such conversions has not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share calculations. Additionally, there were 10,950,388, 11,159,160 and 13,304,016, stock options that were not dilutive as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.