Note 1 - Interim Financial Statements (Details) - Earnings Per Share (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 77,595		$ 75,356		$ 146,919		$ 129,363
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax			4,059		540		4,059
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,133)		(3,275)		(4,871)		(8,785)
Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests			95		17		2,393
Preferred stock dividends	(14,573)		(20,841)		(29,147)		(36,415)
Income from continuing operations available to the common shareholders	60,889		55,394		113,458		90,615
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares	(352)		(313)		(705)		(627)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	60,537		55,081		112,753		89,988
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to the Company	(24,323)		(7,123)		(23,696)		(4,280)
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share	36,214		47,958		89,057		85,708
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	407,640		405,560		407,154		405,916
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.14		$ 0.28		$ 0.22
Loss from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.06)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.06)		$ (0.01)
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.09		$ 0.12		$ 0.22		$ 0.21
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	60,537		55,081		112,753		89,988
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share	$ 36,214		$ 47,958		$ 89,057		$ 85,708
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in Shares)	407,640		405,560		407,154		405,916
Effect of dilutive securities (a):
Equity awards (in Shares)	1,191	[1]	916	[1]	1,009	[1]	911	[1]
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in Shares)	408,831		406,476		408,163		406,827
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.14		$ 0.28		$ 0.22
Loss from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.06)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.06)		$ (0.01)
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.09		$ 0.12		$ 0.22		$ 0.21

[1] For the three and six months ended June 30, 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 9,070,328 and 14,343,058 stock options that were not dilutive at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.