Were the red scare policies of the us government appropriate response to fears of a Bolshevik revolution?

While actually in line, in terms of personal opinion, with the other answers already given: there are two sides that a serious student/scholar can argue.

For the 'yes' side, think of the fact there had been a major Revolution in Russia (Soviet Union) which nationalized all industry. This meant all those the world over who had investment in the economy of that part of the world had just had it all literally confiscated. Those who lived off those investments (some would call these the 'corporate welfare parasites') will have lost all their 'visible means of support'. This Revolutionary movement claimed to be 'International' in intent and the leaders of the Soviet Union often used language which others perceived as aggressively fomenting revolution elsewhere (meddling in the politics of other nations). Thus those who had investments anywhere in the world (not just that part directly affected by the Revolution of 1917) were a bit(?) nervous when anyone spoke of a 'communist' (and sometimes even of a 'socialist') political party springing up in their neck of the woods. These people would have felt McCarthy and Nixon and their political cronies were doing just the right thing.

On the other hand, the question can be argued about the human rights issues. Many were brought into what became a 'zoo' or a 'kangaroo' court and asked about their association with others who were often painted as communists without a shred of evidence. This often discredited people who were talented in terms of writing for and acting in (or participating in other ways) the film industry to such an extent they lost their reputation and their livelihoods. Those who are seen as setting up the framework of the Constitution of the United States (enlightenment thinkers) fought for freedom of expression and freedom of association. The HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) and Joseph McCarthy actions and activities directly contravened these notions and ideas and thus were ultimately discredited themselves putting Joe McCarthy in the same position politically and possibly as monetarily as those he had discredited in his hearings. McCarthy's undoings really began when he started to criticize such Presidents as Eisenhower and Truman.

More in such volumes as:

Limited speech, the Palmer Raids and mass Xenophobia were probably overkill.

sorta like taking nail clippers away from airline passengers and the NSA listening in on grandmas cookie recipe ... we tend to loose our sh*t when it is politically convenient for the fascist leaning folks in the country

It was an appropriate response to the Soviet threat.