Note 1 - Interim Financial Statements (Details) - Reconciliation of Earnings/(Loss) and the Weighted Average Number of Shares (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Reconciliation of Earnings/(Loss) and the Weighted Average Number of Shares [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 104,554		$ 50,590		$ 300,824		$ 187,523
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax			540		389		1,080
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,601)		(1,425)		(13,899)		(6,296)
Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)		(2,779)		7,396		(1,844)
Preferred stock dividends	(14,573)		(14,573)		(43,720)		(43,720)
Income from continuing operations available to the common shareholders	87,376		32,353		250,990		136,743
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares	(431)		(337)		(1,292)		(1,011)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	86,945		32,016		249,698		135,732
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	92,759		8,837		76,510		(5,791)
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share	179,704		40,853		326,208		129,941
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	409,326		408,060		408,868		407,459
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.21		$ 0.08		$ 0.61		$ 0.33
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.23		$ 0.02		$ 0.19		$ (0.01)
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.44		$ 0.10		$ 0.80		$ 0.32
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	86,945		32,016		249,698		135,732
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	92,759		8,837		76,510		(5,791)
Distributions on convertible units	130				390
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share	$ 179,834		$ 40,853		$ 326,598		$ 129,941
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in Shares)	409,326		408,060		408,868		407,459
Effect of dilutive securities (a):
Equity awards (in Shares)	1,052	[1]	806	[1]	1,092	[1]	1,051	[1]
Assumed conversion of convertible units (in Shares)	723	[1]		[1]	723	[1]		[1]
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in Shares)	411,101		408,866		410,683		408,510
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.21		$ 0.08		$ 0.61		$ 0.33
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.23		$ 0.02		$ 0.18		$ (0.01)
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.44		$ 0.10		$ 0.79		$ 0.32

[1] For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, 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 8,839,578 and 10,983,598 stock options that were not dilutive at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.