Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments			$ 742,559	$ 1,037,218
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			480,395	159,560	$ 208,689
Secured Debt	[1]		$ 1,614,982	1,424,228
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum			3.62%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum			4.97%
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			$ 91,609	$ 93,845	296,550
Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments						$ 81,700
Number of Real Estate Properties			421	443
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			$ 27,000	$ 37,200
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal			$ 9,300	$ 18,600
Number of Capital Transactions			9	6
Number of Master Leased Pools						30
Secured Debt			$ 299,100
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum			5.08%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum			10.47%
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate			9.20%
Preferred Equity Investments [Member] | Leased Properties [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties			385	385		403
ABS Venture [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Investments			$ 85,300
AB Acquisition [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		9.80%
Safeway [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Non-controlling Interest Liability			65,000
Cost Method Investments Increase Decrease In Additional Paid In Capital			24,000
Cost Method Investment Deferred Tax Effect			$ 16,000
Leveraged Lease [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties			11
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal			$ 2,100
Secured Debt			$ 11,200
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage			90.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments			$ 22,000
Other Assets [Member] | Safeway [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Cost Method Investments			190,300
Two Partners [Member] | ABS Venture [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			105,000
Colony [Member] | ABS Venture [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture		$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Colony [Member] | AB Acquisition [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		4.30%	4.30%
ABS Venture [Member] | AB Acquisition [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		14.35%	14.35%
Kimco [Member] | AB Acquisition [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			9.80%
Albertsons, NAI and, Safeway [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Stores			2,200
Number of States in which Entity Operates			33
Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			$ 15,300	$ 14,500	$ 13,200
Maximum Exposure [Member] | Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments			$ 199,900	$ 229,100
Minimum [Member] | Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term			5 months
Maximum [Member] | Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 8 - Other Real Estate Investments (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term			6 years

[1] The Company determined that its valuation of these Mortgages Payable was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.