Some TV pundits think America’s “new right” is funny. They like to laugh at kooks like Sharron Angle. But I’m beginning to think the rise to prominence of the current crop of crazy Republican candidates is no laughing matter.

I wonder whether these people could be dangerous. I mean really dangerous.

Every once in a while one of the “new right” folks suggests the possibility of armed insurrection.

The first time I heard the suggestion it came from Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who is not a candidate but seems to be some kind of spokesperson for these candidates. And, by the way, I blame MSNBC’s Chris Matthews for launching her media career. Matthews brought her on his show to make fun of her and gave her a soapbox for her nutty ideas.

Bachmann (photo above, right) raised eyebrows a while back (my eyebrows, anyway) when she urged her supporters to be “armed and dangerous.”

Later, Angle (photo above, middle) chimed in with the remark that angry Americans might resort to “second amendment remedies” if Washington doesn’t mend its ways. (The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives Americans “the right to bear arms.”)

Now, Texas Republican congressional candidate Stephen Broden says he would not rule out the violent overthrow of the government if Republicans don’t take over Congress in the November 2 elections.

In a TV interview Thursday, Broden (photo above, left) said:

If the government is not producing the results or has become destructive to the ends of our liberties, we have a right to get rid of that government and to get rid of it by any means necessary.

He added that the nation was founded by violent revolt against King George III.

When you put these seditious remarks in the context of an upsurge in militia activity, and consider that conservative protesters wore loaded weapons to rallies during the summer, you might wonder what these people are thinking.

I hope the government is taking these threats seriously. If I were running things I would be monitoring the “new right” and their militia supporters, ready to meet a display of violence with lethal force if necessary.

History shows that fascism is not to be taken lightly. Relatively small groups of armed extremists have taken over countries in the past – with catastrophic results.